December 6, 2013

decking the halls.

first things first, i love christmas with all of my heart.
it is without a doubt the most wonderful time of year for me.
nothing makes be happier than the smell of pine, bing crosby, christmas trees, hot cocoa, fireplace snuggles and millions of family get-together. 

this week, to ring in christmas time in the city, mewy and i went and picked out our very first tree at our neighborhood tree lot. city christmas is way too perfect.she's the cutest little tree ever and our festive apartment makes the anticipation of christmas day even more real. we are giddy with holiday cheer here at 104 filbert. 
happy first week of december loves.
i hope all is merry and bright in your sweet homes.
have a great weekend!

December 5, 2013

disability.

disability(n): a concept that i am fascinated with;
a driving force instilling passion in my nursing work;
the reason for individualism. 

aren't we all disabled in someway or another?
too good not to share.

be thankful for yourself and your body my friends.
in all forms and in all ways, we are pretty darn incredible.

December 4, 2013

humanity.

there is something incredibly humanizing about my past year.
i think that i have come a lot closer to understanding humanity and life and meaning.
my time in nursing clinical at a particularly incredible hospital and unit, has brought a whole new meaning to the word 'purpose.'
opportunity, is an understatement.
(via)
i think it is particularly pertinent during this time.
thanksgiving and the festive holiday season.
do you have a home?
someone to put as your emergency contact?
a mailing address?
income?
clothes?
family and friends?
belongings to call your own?
shoes?

my sweet, sweet patients may not have any of the above but they have an incredible amount of humanity.
poor in possession, rich in life.
a true lesson on daily gratitude. i am so very thankful for the life lessons that my patients have taught me in the most subtle of ways. never take a day for granted.  

December 2, 2013

giving thanks.

your cup of jo monday moment.
(via)

Let gratitude be the pillow upon which you kneel to say your nightly prayer.
And let faith be the bridge you build to overcome evil and welcome good.
Maya Angelou

November 22, 2013

that one time.

hey remember that one time when i went on a multi-month hiatus from blogging?
oh wait, that's every few months.
sorry friends.

it has been a little crazy over here. 
school is busy, busy, busy with projects on papers on meetings but none-the-less, finally feeling like i am making a difference in the healthcare system and the sfgh patient's lives. 
a great but often overwhelming feeling.
thanksgiving, masters exam, graduation, b's graduation, holiday parties, christmas, all things job related, and much more coming up in the next bit. lots of fabulous things to look forward too.
can't wait to have you along for the ride!
(via)
so that's whats up around these parts.
no promises, but i hope that i can be a little better over my favorite season of them all. 
too many fun things to celebrate over the coming holiday season.

oh and in my time away, i became an RN- wahoo!

September 5, 2013

landmark.

sometimes i forget how crazy it is that i live less than a mile away from this beauty.
and i see it everyday.
(via)
sf, i will never be over you.

(check this out, sf lovers.)

August 30, 2013

summers' last hoorah.

hope you hone in on this last little bit of summer on the long weekend.
i am headed home to celebrate my parents 30th anniversary with an outdoor fresh-picked brunch.
no better way to celebrate, then around a table.

a few summer bash party menu ideas.

cheers to watermelon, nights on the porch, and crisp finger foods with friends!

August 28, 2013

suffering your kinder.

so happy to be back in the sweet and crazy san francisco general hospital for my final masters rotation.
oh how i have missed the special patients of sfgh.
here's to a busy, challenging, and inspirational semester back in the 4B unit.
love this place.

August 26, 2013

walnuts take sf.

my social calendar was blowing up this past weekend.
brewfest by the bay, foreverland michael jackson tribute concert, brunches, and a delores park date provided for quite a fun weekend as the WALNUTS TOOK SF.
we celebrated the fifth annual luau in our tiny studio with $75 worth of classy decorations and costumes that quickly became the hit outfits for the bay area brewfest.
you would be surprised how much camera time and picture partners some leis and hula skirts will get you. 
never thought i was a total michael jackson groupie fan... until saturday night.
foreverland blew me away.
seriously BLOWN AWAY.
this 14-piece tribute band played at bimbos 365 club in the city and i am still sore/hoarse from the funness of abc123, beat it, man in the mirror, the way you make me feel, and thriller.
i cannot say enough good things about it. go.
and of course some quality picknicking at 'the beach' at delores park complete with carne asada burritos and a stop for the famous iced mint mojito iced coffee at philz. yum.
your weekly dose of all things unclothed, screaming, flirting, and high at the park.
gotta love san francisco.

so much love to all my walnuts here and there- this weekend was WAY too much fun.

August 25, 2013

same love.

too good not to post.
if you didn't see this.
you must watch.
obsessed.
and JT reunited with nsync- i feel like a giddy preteen all over again.

August 23, 2013

read along.

on my nightstand (aka in my kindle).
this i believe.
...the personal philosophies of remarkable men and women...
(via)
I believe in the pursuit of happiness. Not its attainment, nor its final definition, but its pursuit. I believe in the journey, not the arrival; in conversation, not monologues; in multiple questions rather than any single answer. I believe in the struggle to remake ourselves and challenge each other in the spirit of eternal forgiveness, in the awareness that none of us knows for sure what happiness truly is, but each of us knows the imperative to keep searching. I believe in the possibility of surprising joy, of serenity through pain, of homecoming through exile.
Andrew Sullivan

read along with me if you so desire.
quite inspiring.

August 21, 2013

a pickled affair.

houston, it's cucumber season at the palmer farm and no matter how many we give away- they just keep popping up everywhere.
i mean everywhere.

we have made salads and infused drinks and eaten panzanellas and sandwiches but to no avail, 
there are way more than we can handle.
thus, we pickled.

bread-and-butter pickled goodness to be exact.
with onions from the garden too.
 i am officially converted to a pickle lover.

some recipes from here and there
really, you should do yourself a favor and make some homemade pickles.
they are so darn good.

August 20, 2013

powerfully sexy.

(via)

You know what’s really, powerfully sexy? 
A sense of humor. A taste for adventure. A healthy glow. Hips to grab on to. Openness. Confidence. Humility. Appetite. Intuition. Smart-ass comebacks. Presence. A quick wit. Dirty jokes told by an innocent-looking lady. A storyteller. A genius. A doctor. A new mother. 
A woman who realizes how beautiful she is.

Courtney E. Martin

August 19, 2013

ice cream social.

my 'forever roomies' were in town this weekend.
swensen's date?
i think yes.
 sushi and ice cream cone sunday night to top of the perfect weekend.
fat girl sunday lives on!

August 16, 2013

garden snapshots.

on my weeks off, i spent a lot of time here.

i think you can see why.
major props to the garden expert bill palmer, my dad.
tastes even better than it looks.

thanks for the lessons dad,
can't wait to have my own garden someday!

August 14, 2013

adrift.


Adrift
 

roll on, you fog.
san francisco you are the very best city ever.
grateful to be your inhabitant today.

August 12, 2013

bay bound.

headed back to the bay.
san francisco to be exact.
ready to start my last semester of nursing school.
oh how time flies...
(via)
filbert street.
my second home.

August 7, 2013

sweetness.

now i'm not one for sweets. i'll take savory over sweet ninety-nine percent of the time but oh-hot-damn,
zucchini brownies are from the gods. 

you have got to try these. you will not be disappointed- so moist and just the right amount of sweetness.

::: zucchini brownie recipe :::
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. sugar
2 c. flour
2 c. shredded zucchini
1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

mix all ingredients together and pour into a greased 13"x9" pan. cook for 25-30 minutes at 350 degrees fahrenheit. 
enjoy!

August 5, 2013

anniversary trippin'.

a few snapshots from the absolute PERFECT weekend with my boo.
we hiked, cooked, wine tasted, relaxed, campfired, bookstore shopped, coffee dated, played cards, and just simply enjoyed each others company.
something that we rarely have the time to do with just the two of us.
like i said, it was simply perfect.
i mean, lets be honest, is this not the sweetest face ever?!
and if that isn't cute enough, he gave me a copy of '1000 places to see before you die' tabbed with our traveling to-do list for our future and the sweetest of cards for our 'no-present' celebration.
what a catch.

happy anniversary b- i'm the luckiest.

(mush fest is over now, i promise:)

August 2, 2013

six years.

happy six year anniversary b!

this week brandon and i celebrated six years of mushy gushy romance.
i can honestly say i have never been more in love than i am today. 
everyday is a blessing with you b and i can't imagine life without you by my side.
and a few more.
the most sincere, loyal, conscientious, hardworking, hilarious, handsome hunk i know.
off to a weekend of camping, hiking, bonfires, wine tasting, brunching, and smooching in the malibu hills with my lover boy.

i love you b.

July 31, 2013

wedding bells.

let's talk about how much fun the bachlorette party, rehearsal, and wedding of my future brother and sister in law was...
SO FUN!
the proof is in the pictures.

congrats macain and jesse!
it was a beautiful day and i wish you all the best in your marriage!
love you both so much!

July 25, 2013

celeb couple crush.

along with the rest of the world, i'm obsessed with the royal couple.
(via)
like obsessed.
as in i'll buy the 'people magazine royal baby special' obsessed. 
kate is such a classy, foxy, adorable momma.
gah so perfect- congrats!

July 24, 2013

gaining a sis.

celebrated this little beauty this past weekend.
the bachelorette shennanigans were way too fun.
although i'm not technically married into the family yet, jesse already seems like my sis.
so lucky to have met her and i'm truly so lucky to be able to have her as my future sister-in-law.
can't wait to have children, girls nights, christmas mornings, and all things family with you sis. 
congrats on your wedding this weekend.
cannot wait!!!

July 22, 2013

summer salads.

headed home at the end of this week for a FEW WEEKS!
obviously excited (i mean, do i ever use capitals?)

looking forward to our overflowing backyard garden.
fruits, veggies, and herbs. 
oh my!
i seriously cannot wait.
do you think it would be overkill to have a themed garden backyard party every night that i am home?
i could switch it up and do some brunches too.
all are welcome.

a few summer salad inspirations that i am planning on making at home.

i know you mouth is watering now.
any favorite summer salad recipes that i need to know about?
don't be shy, please share.

July 19, 2013

humans.

for the past few months now, i have been contemplating and looking into public photography as a way to document my time and feelings about san francisco and its people.

my experience with the population at san francisco general hospital and the various community sites that i have worked in have peaked my interest in giving the marginalized and homeless population a voice and a face.
i have a dream to go out and document this population in their natural day-to-day environment while maintaing my own safety and gathering small life lessons, histories, and quotes from the people.

humans of new york is a very similar concept to what i dream of doing.


super interesting, huh?


July 17, 2013

imperfections.

sometimes i like to just sit down and paint.
sunday was one of those days.

we call her 'sunday imperfection.'
i really like her.
when i got done, i sat back and almost found my yogi self in her.

being able to have time for creativity is the greatest.
it's rare that i have those weekend hours to just have a cup of tea or iced coffee, stretch out in my comfies, and create a painting or art project.

someday i'm gonna take up ceramics.
i think i need to quit making that statement about the future and just take one already.
"emily, if you don't make time for something, you are not making it a priority." (repeat, repeat, repeat)

enjoy your wednesday my friends.
now let's both go out and try something that we've been wanting to do for a while.
ready, go.

July 15, 2013

cleanse.



in efforts to detoxify (and lets be honest- lose a few pounds) i am cleansing this week in a not-so-big way.

this coming weekend i will be heading down south for my future sister's (my boyfriends, brothers fiancé- sounds really distant but i feel like we are already family) bachelorette party. the thought of laying next to a bunch of super cute, skinny girls makes me cringe but i have been working hard in the gym, getting outdoors, eating my greens, and soaking up the sun to instill some confidence in my physical self. to bolster these measures, i am supercharging my health this week with a daily cleanse, yoga, and good ol' fashion extra healthy eating.

because i got a great deal at a local juicery, i will be supplementing some bought fresh pressed juices with my homemade smoothies and meals. green juice is the staple of the detox then meals are filled in with alkaline, dark green veggies, raw fruits, and wholesome fibers. hoping that this reenergizes me and 
helps me feel more comfortable when it comes to bikini time.
green juice ingredients:
1 cucumber
3 celery stalks
3 kale leaves
1 apple
1/3 c. parsley sprigs
1/2 lemon
feed all ingredients into a juicer and remove solids or blend all ingredients but substitute fresh pressed apple juice for the apple and add coconut water. 

happy cleansing!
(ps i'll let you know how i feel in the coming week!)

July 14, 2013

yogi in the making.

"Yoga teaches us to cure what need not be endured and endure what cannot be cured."
 B.K.S. Lyengar
in hopes of persuading you to partake in one of my passions, i write to you as a yoga enthusiast.
there is quite simply nothing that i am loving more than yoga these days.
vinyasa flow, power, restorative, antigravity, yoga-pilates fusion.
i have found it to be not only physically demanding, but emotionally renewing and holistically healing.
there is no other time during the day when i am able to feel both strong and relaxed at the same time.

my true obsession is antigravity.
this aerial yoga class allows you to passively and actively stretch beyond your typical capacity while  acrobatically exercising in a renewing restorative class.
if hanging by your feet in an inversion doesn't get your blood flowing, i don't know what will.
(via)
i am so hooked.
find a studio, try a few classes, figure out the types you like, and soak up the powerful relaxation that comes from yoga.
i dare you.

July 1, 2013

lessons i'm learning.

1. there is a reason why people are where they are in their life- take time to ask about it.
2. let the world tell you no- try until you have exhausted all else.
3. if something is a priority in your life you will make time for it- if not, you are choosing to not make it a priority.
4. surrounding yourself with others that differ from you will allow you to grow- comfortability comes in facing the unknown.
5. personal time is more valuable than the world makes it out to be- reconnect with your reality.
6. taking time to 'just be' is the best time you can take.

I think we realize a little more 'something' about ourselves each time we extend ourselves to others. take time to do it this week.

June 30, 2013

love.

'Love liberates. 
It doesn’t bind. 
Love says. ‘I love you. 
I love you if you’re in China. 
I love you if you’re across town. 
I love you if you’re in Harlem. 
I love you. 
I would like to be near you. 
I’d like to have your arms around me. 
I’d like to hear your voice in my ear. 
But that’s not possible now. 
So I love you. Go.’
-Maya Angelou
Thanks for letting me go to san francisco with all of your love.
I can see the light at the end of the long-distance tunnel.
And that light is the best thing ever.

May 13, 2013

currently reading.

loving these two little guys right now.
not your most uplifting books but they are so great.
i'm not one for super flowery language and poetry but emily rapps writing is incredible.


although i am not quite done, i would highly reccommend.