My slow reluctant return to the world of high heels

That title makes me laugh, but nothing is more true of my life right now! The last time I remember being actually really interested in fashion was maybe about three years ago, then I got engaged, got serious about paying off debt, bought our first home, and got married, you know, general growing-up stuff. I've been pretty much in the same old tried and true jeans, cardigan, and flats for so long now and I actually really didn't mind it, it felt good to not buy so much and who am I kidding, flats are just SO much more comfortable!

But as Gwyneth herself says (I love Goop) "it’s a fine line, however, between being comfortable and being demoralized by being frumpy all the time". Not that I think I ever got to the 'frumpy' stage, though on the odd days that I did go to Robson Street or Yaletown, yes, the word 'frumpy' did creep into my mind, what with seeing all the uber-trendy urban gals that seemed to have unlimited funds (and time!) to devote to looking like they all just stepped off a fashion magazine! But I think there is something to be said for having style, and looking and feeling good about how we present ourselves to the world.

And so I begin my slow reluctant return to the world of high heels. Right now I am in the process of putting together my spring/summer 'uniform', that way I only have to buy a few pieces that will make it really easy to look stylish and chic for the next few months. Unfortunately try as I might to get away from the heels, it is just not the same without them. So here is my first purchase, I love the peep-toe, the snake-skin print, and I think it will go well with leggings, jeans, skirts...perfect.


Once I have purchased a few more of my basics for the season I will put a few of them together and post some pictures. We'll see how well I do in my first foray back into fashion :)

Oh, and here is my inspiration:
http://goop.com/newsletter/3

~D

I wish I was more articulate. I wish I was more this, more that, be here, there, feel this, have that. Anyone else guilty of having these thoughts? Lately I feel like I've been stuck with these thoughts more so than usual. I think it's normal to always aspire to something, want what's best, expect great things, but the balance between wanting it all and appreciating what's here and now is so hard-fought sometimes. Keyword: balance. So elusive in this frenetic pace! To top it off there is not only living to my already high expectations, but the imaginary expectations of others, I mean, it's really enough to drive one crazy!

Some days I just catch myself saying, so what is it really about? What am I after? What would make me truly happy? I need these constant conversations with myself, to remind me of what's necessary and true. When I feel like I can't keep up, all I need to think of is what do I want? Then those imaginary pressures slowly start to disappear, or at least temporarily fade in the background :)

Strength of character, boldness, humility, wisdom, all-around loveliness are all characteristics I admire and aspire to. I think living true to yourself everyday takes such boldness, to say, this is who I am right now, and I am content with it. I'm working on this. More courage! Cue the harps!!

Now, I need a good segue. But I can't think of one SO.......on to other lighter things!

Hubby and I had a really nice laid back Valentine's, not to say it wasn't romantic, but it was decidedly low-key. We started off with a pancake breakfast that he made (A+ on effort! Hubby doesn't do a lot of cooking, I'm the happy cook in the household :), then I made some red velvet cupcakes, though I unfortunately did not take into account that 24 cupcakes was 20 too many for the two of us!! So maybe not the best use of my effort there. Hubby got me very pretty pink roses, which I have now decided are my favorite kind, and a tub of strawberry shortcake ice cream :o) In the afternoon we went on a romantic walk by the beach in White Rock, went for lunch and took pictures of the sunset from the pier. It was a lovely love day indeed. Here are some photos!


So there we were. Another great day to file under my 'Great day memories' folder :) I bet my husband wished I did have such a file! He always says I have such poor memory, whenever I complain that we don't go on enough adventures, truth is, I do tend to forget easily, especially when I'm in a wanderlusty mood. But that's for another day and another post :)

Thanks for looking!

Just another Sunday...

If I could, I would stop time right now. I feel incredibly peaceful, and so blessed, sitting here with my morning coffee in complete silence. Sunday silent mornings with fortifying sunshine streaming in. Oh life is good.

Yesterday was my little twin brothers' (not so little anymore!) twentieth birthday, and it has been a wonderful weekend all in all. Our family from Seattle all came to celebrate, all 30 of them, or something like that! We have a BIG family on my Dad's side, factor in 8 siblings, all married and with kids. I think there are 16 cousins now, me being the oldest, and the youngest being baby Aaron, who is I think around 18 months. Crazy huh. The best part is how close we all are! I love big families! Here are a few photos to share :o)

I am still trying to figure out how to work my camera in order to take those lovely indoor portraits with that nice blur on the background. I need A LOT of help :P Good thing I know a few really good photographers ;)

So now the weekend is drawing to a close, today I have a ten-page paper to write that is due tomorrow morning, and of course, I have not started. Yikes. I better get on that. Hmm, maybe after I bake some scones :P

Until next time!

Reminder to Self

What I would like my life to be is a life full of love. Filled with days I spend with people I love, filled with moments in places I love. Filled with minutes thinking about and talking about ideas I love. Filled with hours and days doing what brings me joy, whether it is work or play. Filled with pleasures like great food and wine and looking at and appreciating things of beauty. These are what make me feel alive, and connected to my purpose.

Here is a quote I wrote down in my journal, which inspired me:

Your purpose is not to fear or to frighten. Your purpose is not to control or to be controlled. Your purpose is to live, to love, and to experience life in a way that is uniquely yours. Remember that purpose, and let its value flow freely from you with each thought, feeling and action. Live from your purpose and be fully alive.

I apologize, but I can't remember who said or wrote it, I got it from an email my Aunt sent a while ago, one of those 'Good morning!' emails that I used to look so forward to getting. It resonated with me, I guess is why I wrote it down.

It is a good reminder, especially when I start to question why this and why that and why me, that my life is uniquely mine, with my own very unique purpose.

My new toy!

I am not usually an impulsive person....well, most of the time I'm not anyway. I usually like to think things through, sleep on it, talk it out, exhaustively. Especially when it involves spending money! Wait, I'm not cheap! I'm just not frivolous :P So what I did yesterday, I admit, was a little bit out of character...but I can justify it I swear!! lol. Ok, enough of the blabbing.

Yesterday I bought myself a (not very cheap) Canon EOS Rebel XS camera!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!

Yup, there is the proof, right there. I am the person who is not very techy-gadgety, I mean, I had one of those old clunky dinosaur-like cell phones until at least 2003! It wasn't until this past summer when I bought myself an iMac that I felt like I actually joined the 21st century!! SO this, this, was a HUGE purchase for me. But I had been thinking about it for months!! I love photography, love love love the beauty it captures, and how photos can make even ordinary things catch your breath. And with my latest resolution of re-discovering my creative side, it just seemed like a proper investment. (See what I mean, exhaustively! :P)

I am so excited to learn all about it, though it is pretty intimidating at first. And also must convince camera-shy hubby to get over it and get used to being my most-photographed model :D

Here are a couple of shots I've taken with it, I just love how crisp and clear the colors are. Soo much better photo quality than point-and-shoots! (Yes, I am smug DSLR-er now :P jk!!)


Nothing too exciting yet, but with hubby's birthday and my brothers' birthdays coming up, there will surely be lots of photo-taking practice going on!! I guess this is what happens :o)

There are a few other *BIG* exciting things going on/on the horizon...but my lips are sealed as I don't want to jinx anything!! As soon as I can...you bet I'll be blogging about it :D

Thanks for reading!!

xx Danna

Off to the races!!

Not! This is how I usually start a day off, slow lazy mornings...waiting for the espresso machine to heat up...in the meantime browsing the internet. In the past (before I discovered 'blogging') I used to just do the usual email-facebook routine. Oh how my life has changed now! :D Okay, maybe a bit of exaggerating. Soo this morning is already a good one...why you ask? Because I have already discovered a new website that I just LOVE. Everything about it is all that I am after, and the author...well, what can I say, I think I adore her. Saw her on Oprah not too long ago, and was actually surprised, by her seeming groundedness, realness, style, passion, and articulateness. I am a Gwyneth fan. And the site I speak of is:

www.goop.com (nourish the inner aspect) by none other than Gwyneth herself!! I love when I discover things like this, it absolutely inspires me.

inspiration |noun| 1 the process of being mentally stimulated
to do or feel something, esp. to do something creative/
a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea

Here is a recent photo I took that inspired me to see how beautiful life is!
(snow day in december.08, in front of our house)

That's it for me today...thanks for looking!

xx Danna

New to this! Hello out there!

Wow a place on the web to call my own?? Who would've thought! (Yes, I know, I am soo behind!) I am stumbling onto this kind of accidentally...recently, I made a New Year's resolution to reconnect with my creative side again. Some way of expressing myself, a way to connect and feel connected. Then I stumbled upon 'Stumble Upon' and to make a long story short, was inspired by a few blogs I saw and read. I was amazed at how so many people were doing this and it seemed to really fit into what I was looking to do. So here I am :) It's a little unnerving to think....who in the heck would bother to read what I write/post?! I mean, me? little ol' me, rambling away...well at the very least my husband would probably read it! :)

To start this off, some pictures!!

This is me, with my hubby, Ian. (december.08)

This is where we live. (aka 'our little nest')
Our first home (Cloverdale, BC)

I think that makes a good intro...short & sweet (like me :P)

Thanks for looking and reading :) Now off to make some dinner...ribs, potatoes, and coleslaw. Yumm.