2016 Books

We started off 2016 with our belated honeymoon to Thailand and I decided to take The Name of the Wind with me as my read. The above photo is from a morning in Bangkok--I sat at a local coffee shop, sipped iced coffee, read a little and people watched a little. 

As always, the majority of my reading list this year consisted of YA fiction. Thanks to book club, I did read a couple of books that I wouldn't have normally picked up on my own. I don't have the patience to review each one, so will just pick a favorite for the year: Carry On by Rainbow Rowell.

1. The Name of the Wind, Patrick Rothfuss
2. P.S. I Still Love You, Jenny Han
3. The Selection, Kiera Cass
4. Anne of Green Gables, L.M. Montgomery
5. Red Queen, Victoria Aveyard
6. The Elite, Kiera Cass
7. Me Before You, Jojo Moyes 
8. Trigger Warning, Neil Gaiman
9. The One, Kiera Cass
10. Carry On, Rainbow Rowell
11. Big Little Lies, Liane Moriarty
12. Fan Girl, Rainbow Rowell
13. The Martian, Andy Weir
14. Six of Crows, Leigh Bardugo
15. Manners and Mutiny, Gail Carriger
16. Ann of Avonlea, L.M. Montgomery
17. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, J.K Rowling, Jack Thorne, John Tiffany
18. Eleanor and Park, Rainbow Rowell

2015 books

I started reading more in 2014 and kept it up in 2015. YA once again was the majority of my reading material, but there were other categories sprinkled here and there. I even started up a book club again, this time virtually so friends from all over the country can participate, and our first read was Chris Hadfield's An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth. Here's my 2015 list!

1. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

2. Circle of Magic, Sandry's Book by Tamora Pierce

3. To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

4. Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate Series #1) by Gail Carriger

5. Changeless (The Parasol Protectorate Series #2) by Gail Carriger

6. Blameless (The Parasol Protectorate Series #3) by Gail Carriger

7. Waistcoats & Weaponry (Finishing School Series #3) by Gail Carriger

8. St. Jana's Academy by Megan Donohue and Terrin Griffin

9. Wildlife by Fiona Wood

10. Splintered by A.G. Howard

11. The Spellman Files by Lisa Lutz

12. An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth by Chris Hadfield

13. Edenbrook by Julianne Donaldson

14. Timebound (The Chronos Files #1) by Rysa Walker

15. Time's Edge (The Chronos Files #2) by Rysa Walker

16. Time's Divide (The Chronos Files #3) by Rysa Walker

17. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Life Lately...

…has consisted of strolling under majestic redwoods, sipping wine while taking in a phenomenal view, bottle feeding adorable otter pups, and watching the sun set into the Pacific with my love. 

I still terribly miss parts of my old life…talking to friends every day, just hanging out, getting together for book club, beer club, or whatever other clubs I may concoct. Seeing family, playing with my nephew and watching his daily growth and development. Having a fulfilling career, doing work that I care about, connecting with people and touching lives.

Yes, I miss all that. I have to remind myself that it's okay to miss it all, as long as I don't wallow in that longing. So even though there are things that I miss, I am  now surrounded by the smell of pines and the sound of waves. I hang out with nature, the trees, bay and beach are my friends. I am able to volunteer my time and do work that is important, rewarding, and unlike anything else I have done before. I am building a home with the wonderful man that I love. These are the beautiful experiences filling up my new life and I am thankful for them every day. 

Patience has never been one of my strengths...

I have been waiting, waiting, WAITING.
I am restless and disheartened, bound by the unknown.
Being in this state is suffocating.
I am lingering in the darkness of possibility
I just need to know…
YES or NO?!

Okay, now that I've expressed some frustrations and released negative energy from my system, I'm going to try a new approach to get me through this period of anxious waiting...some positivity, gratitude, and a new mantra:

Breathe in, breathe out. My life is abundant and full of love and wonderful experiences. I am thankful for family, friendships, and connections with others. More wonderful things will come in their own time. I trust my journey...

Hiking

"I go to nature to be soothed and healed, 

and to have my senses put in order." 

-John Burroughs

Wildflower Season

“To find the universal elements enough; to find the air and the water exhilarating; to be refreshed by a morning walk or an evening saunter... to be thrilled by the stars at night; to be elated over a bird's nest or a wildflower in spring — these are some of the rewards of the simple life.” -John Burroughs, Leaf and Tendril

Ever Grateful

That I call this home...

Afternoon walk

Morning View

Heading to work in the mornings, this is my view when I park and step out of the car--adorable homes and a peek of the bay. It's such a lovely way to start out the work day! I heart living here.

Satisfying a Craving

I don't miss the traffic or lines or lack of trees, but I sure do miss the LA food scene! What does it take to satisfy a craving for a warm bowl of delicious ramen? Well, in LA, it takes the effort to make several decisions: what kind of ramen do you want, which restaurant do you want to try, or how far are you willing to drive? When one lives in a town lacking in the quantity of cuisine choices, and sometimes quality of cuisine, you don't have a choice. This is what it takes:

1.5 hours of driving + 1 hour of waiting (on a list behind 25 other groups)

And was this effort worth it? Oh boy, yes it was. I won't be making a trek like that very often, but it was so worth it this one time to satisfy a craving that has been nagging at me for a while now (I blame watching too many episodes of The Mind of a Chef: Season 1!)