Tickets to Europe? Booked.

via peaceloveandprettythings

Come August, my family and I will spend over two weeks in Paris, Venice, Sicily, Naples, Sardinia, Rome, Florence, Monaco, and Barcelona!  I'm super excited, yet am soaking in the last couple weeks of classes and embracing finals.  It will be all gone before I know it and my years as a professional student will all be behind me.            

"Paris is always a good idea"

Paris in 2006

After enough persuasion to my benefactor bf, we will revist Pah-ri this summer after all!  And Venice, Rome, Madrid, and all those wonderful places I have yet to see!

Snippet from Sabrina:

Wine Country

Day 1: Starting our trip off right

Scenic drive

Stopped by Santa Barbara for a seafood lunch at Brophy Bros overlooking the harbor

Made it just in time to Solvang to catch the Farmer's Market

Walked the quaint Danish streets near our hotel

We then had a steak dinner at the Hitching Post and tried our luck at the smoky Chumash Casino.

Ended the  night with strawberry fondue and red wine

Day 2: The Wine Tasting Experience

Sunny morning in Los Olivos

Short hike to Nojoqui Falls  

First wine tasting experience at the french provincial-esque vineyard of Sunstone Winery

After another tasting stop at Bridlewood, we stopped at Gainey Vineyard for a peaceful picnic on the hills

We had dinner at Brother's Restaurant and ended the night watching Sabrina, a Audrey Hepburn classic.

Day 3: Wrapping up our trip

Breakfast at Paula's Pancakes.  Walked around and visited a cute little bookstore.

Went to Fess Parker for our last wine tasting stop.  

Be Parisienne

Last week I found this article that I've been meaning to share, as it relates to this whole Project Happiness of mine:  http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/07/travel/five-paris-lessons/index.html

Five Lessons Learned From Living In Paris

"Before I lived in Paris, I would go through life on autopilot. . .

Paris taught me not how to just exist, but to thrive and make every small moment meaningful."

1. Live a passionate life

2. Cultivate an air of mystery

3. Look presentable always

4. Don't forget the simple pleasures 

(and do not deprive yourself)

5. Make life a formal affair

I thought this was wonderful because I had spent 5 weeks in Paris studying abroad, and I barely took the time to appreciate it's beauties until I started reminiscing about it.  I remember the first time our tour guide took us to see the Eiffel tower from the Palaice de Chaillot, where the view was breathtaking.  I remember the gorgeous view of the city from the Sacre Coeur atop the Montmarte Hill.  I remember running down the streets of Paris to class, holding big sketch boards, and dropping by the same cafe to pick up the same strawberry tart and cafe latte each morning.  I recall people enjoying their lattes and staring at me, probably scoffing "Ah, un-notha Ah-meh-rican gurl en Pah-ri."  I recall shopping around the Champs-élysées and purchasing my first Chanel purse.  Paris was also the place where I developed my love for wine.  If I could slow it all down, I would relive those 5 weeks with more passion.  And that is the end of that for now.

Fast forward a couple years later, I stumbled onto this link and sent it to all my sisters as my "bridal shower inspiration."  I still love it.  So bookmarking it here.  Vintage Paris and Peonies. 

http://www.heavenlybloomsblog.com/2010/08/french-inspired-bridal-shower.html

And the whole point of this, was just to say that I wanted to add another thing  to my to-do list: Project Remodeling: redecorate my vanity table area and office - parisienne inspired, on a budget!  Meaning, I will try to paint, reupholster, and all that fun stuff.  Limited to these 2 areas because those are the only places I have jurisdiction over, everything in our apartment has to be androgynous.  It will be something fun and mindful to do this break.  It'll get my creative juices flowing after such a long semester of brain wringing!  

Au Revoir!

Farewell Summer!

The interview with the firm went pretty well! I thought I was the best I could be. I haven't received a rejection nor a callback from them yet- so that's still pending. I'm not entirely sure I want this position anyways- labor lawyers don't seem as respected and interesting as tax lawyers, based on what the partner told me- nonetheless, an offer would be nice ;)

Then I went on the best 4 day vacation with my family ever! I love Cancun and Me Hotel! It was the perfect recuperation mechanism to get me pumped for my last year. I went out of hibernation and got a nice new tan and a new zest for life.

I'm back in school this week and I realized after 2 years of law school, I've finally broken out of my nervous shell of speaking in front of a large group. After all, my goal for law school is to leave behind the self-conscious valley girl who comes off as the redheaded stepchild that doesn't belong (literally, redheaded) and become the confident redheaded lawyer whose not afraid to speak her mind.

Finally, the breaking news! I just checked my LL.M grades for the summer and guess who got the highest grade in the class?! I did! First Honors! Woohoo! I never even imagined or expected this would happen! I was too scared of just trying to get a decent grade I never expected I would get the highest grade! Pinot and I are celebrating tonight!

In conclusion, unlike a couple months ago in which Summer greeted me with all this bad news and a draining schedule, the end of summer has bid me farewell with the greatest gift I can possibly ask for: a vacation in paradise with my loved ones and top recognition for my hardwork.

So far, so good. I'm ready for my next challenge.

cliff of courage in cancun

A Heart Shelled Turtle

It seems like worlds away since I was last here. I finally completed my first year of law school and all I can say is... I have no idea what I've gotten myself into. For those nine months I was very robotic and serious. I had pages on pages of to-do lists and I stressed about each and every item until they were complete and replaced by yet another item. I kept checking off those little lopsided squares...but they were never-ending. My hair was getting nappier, my skin was getting paler, my friends were drifting further and my style deteriorating. It was just me and these little square boxes.

A little over a year ago, I had hit the ground running with enthusiasm towards the gates of law school. Recently, I just hit the ground like roadkill. I was exhausted. I had 10 days to recuperate before I started the process again with a summer class, a full-time research assistant and a part time internship.

Those 10 days I spent at the dullest place I know, yet it was the most gorgeous and revitalizing- the Virgin Islands. There was no hustle-bustle of the city...everything was calm...even the ocean waters stayed at peace with gravity. The days were slow and I was bored...but it was perfect. However, my mind wouldn't let me slow down and breathe. Like a war veteran, although I felt like I was home free, the nightmares of the battles kept sneaking into my dreams each night.

I realized that I couldn't live my life like this. There will be many more battles in the road ahead and if I kept letting myself breathe only when I was sipping coffee in the early mornings on the porch of a beach front hotel, I would be dead 99% of the time.

All this dawned on me when the hotel concierge gave me a coupon for a free gift at a local jewelry store. When I went to cash in on the gift- I wasn't sure how to feel...it was a sterling silver necklace of a turtle.

When I was around twelve, I had brought home a baby turtle as a pet. My now estranged father immediately told me to return it from wherever it came from. He superstitiously believed that turtles were slow and bad for business and life. From then on, I hated those slow dumb animals.

So how did I feel about this cute little necklace in my hand of a turtle whose shell was the shape of a heart and whose legs were loose enough to move around?

I was always the hare who tried to race to the finish line, who stared at the end, but never around me. I'm a lot further and closer to my goals but will I be able to finish the race at this pace? Didn't that turtle that I despised before ended up finishing the race AND I'm sure it enjoyed the view on the way there. So point taken, I didn't hesitate to wear the necklace and just like people coming in and out of my life, that anti-turtle notion left me forever too.

I know what path I'm taking and I know the road blocks ahead will be hard to maneuver, but if I kept my pace and learn not to treat trivialities as though they were grave roadblocks and to treat grave roadblocks as though they were trivialities... my heart shell will remain strong and those loose legs will grow stronger.

Love,
Nat