It’s been a while.
To cut right to the chase: life is hectic, Instagram is overwhelming, I’m burnt out but so happy.
Life Lately.
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Listening: Red - Taylor’s Version (With a special nod to “I Bet You Think About Me” and “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”)
Reading: Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid (just finished!)
Watching: Gilmore Girls, always.
Life Update: I moved to Santa Barbara, CA!
Feeling: Happy, grateful, tired, nostalgic, all the things. Missing my family. Proud of myself.
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What a crazy couple months it’s been. Long story short, I accepted a job offer in Santa Barbara, CA at the end of July, and moved the first week of September - talk about a whirlwind!
There have been many things that have helped me through this transitional time (thanks mom, dad, Thomas, Claudia, and Elias), but if there’s one thing that’s been my rock, it’s journaling. Whenever I need to recenter myself and take a deep breath, I turn to writing.
I feel like I lost track of that a bit after starting this blog, and it became for focused on pretty things than gratitude and joy. Don’t get me wrong, I love pretty things, but it put stress on my heart and it stopped making me happy, so I stepped back.
This week, I decided to take a step back from Instagram as well, because I noticed it was making me more sad and less grateful. I miss my family, but life is also crazy busy, so I wanted to start posting little updates about my life here. Kind of like the OG bloggers back in the day.
So anyway, here’s a little update on Life Lately.
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A List of Things That Have Brought Me Joy These Past Few Months:
Getting back into reading. I didn’t super love On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous, but I only got probably a quarter of the way through. Going to try reading it later, but I did finish Malibu Rising and really liked it. Not my absolute favorite, but such a beautiful story of family and the ending was perfect.
Finding all the best sunset spots. I went to watch the sunset almost every day after work for the past few months and it was magical spending that time alone just listening to the waves, collecting shells, and watching the sun dip behind the horizon. The time change is really taking a toll on me no longer being able to experience that during the week - so making sure to really soak it in on the weekends!
Going to the park around the corner from my place to read my book and listen to the kids and dogs play. It’s the little things, and it reminds me of home.
Going to the farmers market on Saturdays. My favorite vendors are “The Pistachio Man" and “The Pink Plum Tent” as I call them, haha. It’s the perfect Saturday morning activity :)
Fresh flowers every week. Reminds me of home, and brings me joy each week. The farmers market or Trader Joe’s are my favorites.
Making conversation on the beach, and anywhere else. My second week here I spent an evening at one of the beaches talking to an older woman who reminded me of Nana. Shortly after, I met an older gentleman who reminded me of Boppa. Been missing them extra lately, but they’re always here with me.
Collecting shells on the beach. I have way too many to count now, but I’ve been shown some great beaches that have so many beauties at low tide. Shell collecting will always be my favorite.
Eating. All the things. Discovering so many good spots - I swear all of my spending money has gone to food. Pad Thai, tacos, gelato, ice cream, guacamole, donuts, margaritas - I can’t wait for friends and family to visit so I can show them my favorites :)
Life Updates:
Moved to Santa Barbara (obviously)
I’m the Marketing / Social Media Coordinator for Hearth Homes Interiors (a.k.a. HHI) (we’re almost to 20k on our Instagram account which is so exciting! Also another reason I’m taking a break from social media - I’m on it all dang day!)
Leased a car in CA! A Toyota Corolla - classic. But it is a hybrid this time - missing the Silver Bullet
Got my first ever business cards (feeling official)
Experienced my first ever wildfire scare (we’re all good now)
Finding so many fruit trees - I found a passionfruit on the ground on my walk one day!
Designed a marketing booklet for Hearth Homes that we just received today - so so exciting to see it come to life!
Planned, styled, and shot the Fall Photoshoot for HHI :)
Swam in the Pacific Ocean for the first time (it’s freezing!!)
Collected so much sea glass and found my first [piece] of a sand dollar
Making friends, exploring the area, and finding peace in change
Love you all, talk soon.
Love, Anne
