time flies when you're having fun

Wait just one minute... It's December already?! What are you doing here so early, fake Santa Clause with your fake Rudolph?

It's kind of sad that the older we get, the faster time flies.  Spring jumps right into summer and summer nights fade away too quickly into fall.  And out of nowhere, leaves turns its lush green colors to a burnt pumpkin-like hue and you speed right through to the holidays.  Which is where I'm at now, updating a blog three months later and didn't even realize it's been that long.  Thank god for my mom's neighbor's annual gaudy light show that easily compares to Vegas' Stardust casino lights.  Only this showcase involves a stuffed Santa climbing into their chimney, complete with his sleigh and reindeers.  How could I have not noticed that it's Christmas time already?  I can blame it on a busy work schedule or I can blame it on complete negligence.  Either way, it's about time that I update this little space I own on the world wide web.

Albeit the overloaded schedule we all have, I can honestly say that there's some fun had in the last few months.  From birthdays, to weddings... to more birthdays and more weddings.  And even just the little stuff that I cherish, like Sunday brunches and discovering new restaurants.  And most importantly, the friends you share these moments with.  So before I turn into sap mode, here are some photos from another golden birthday celebration of a very dear friend of mine.  The D to the G.

p.s.  Sunny, I haven't forgotten about your wedding photos.  They're on the way... :)

What's a birthday celebration without champagne...

Groovin' music...

A toast...

A birthday cake, of course...

Not to mention a special moment shared between two friends.

I'm guessing Mike wasn't happy I interrupted that said moment.

Good [amazing] food is a must for a proper celebration.  And Table 6 delivered, like always.

: PB&J French Toast :

: An over easy egg is the icing on the cake on this burger :

 : Tater Tots "Animal" :

And most importantly, celebrating your special day with special friends...

: lobsters :

Teddy looking so confused as to what's come over Alex...

When all Alex wanted was a picture!

: Sunday funday brunch bunch :

: D&G :

 How everyone should drink their cocktail.

 : stunner shades :

 : stunner shades w/ blue steel :

 And that's all folks.  Till the next post...

eye candy :: chuck taylor all star cup collection fall 2010

Two posts in one night... I'm on a roll even though I stumbled upon this a couple months late.  This cup sole Chuck collection from Converse with monochromatic tones are definitely on point.  Love the cool grey and the electric blue in suede.  Couldn't help but share this...

: via highsnobiety.com :

H&M x Lanvin

Denver has been teased for quite some time now with the possibility of H&M opening in our very own mile-high city.  Whether it's in Cherry Creek or Park Meadows, I believe that Denver is a city credible enough to house this fashion retailer.

This Fall 2010, Lanvin becomes the latest brand to collaborate with H&M.  Enough with the tease.  Come to Denver already...

: via The Society :

what makes you happy?

 I regret not posting these pictures a lot sooner than I should have.  This shot was taken from The Limited's window display last Christmas.  As soon as I walked past their store,  I couldn't help but take out my camera in the middle of a busy, crowded mall, which really was quite an accomplishment.  Let me explain why...

Imagine Cherry Creek mall during the holidays and this store right across the epicenter of where hyper, smelly and hungry kids in their raucous screams of laughter, running rowdily around over-sized bacon, sunny side-up eggs, waffles, and other breakfast-type germ-laden play things.  All at the same time, aggressive and impatient moms with their massive, bulky strollers, draped with shopping bags on either side, trying to maneuver around this madness.  And there I am, in the thick of it all, disrupting this already chaotic intersection by stopping traffic to take a picture of some window display.  Probably not the picture of happiness at that very moment.  But I had to... because within seconds after reading that, I went from an annoyed, get-me-the-hell-out-of-here mood to a sudden state of happiness.  Cheesy, right?  Well, it's about to get worse.

This message touches every single point of what I believe happiness is about.  It begins with you and it comes from inside.  It's making the most of every day and appreciating everyone in your life.  Happiness is being with friends.  And yes, it is also most definitely about a great outfit.  

Happiness can be about the little things.  A quiet walk, a rewarding run, a good shopping day, an easy morning drive to work or a full seven hours worth of sleep. It's a great pair of jeans that flatters you in all the right places, fabulous shoes to go with your outfit, a rockin' 'do that makes every picture you take frame-worthy.  Happiness is listening to good tunes, a cheap flight, an inspiring book, discovering a good restaurant and an impressive dessert menu that completes the whole experience.  Whatever puts a smile on your face and makes your heart sing, that's what happiness is.

But obviously, it is also much more than that.

As important as friends are, happiness is also being with family. It's making the most of your time with them and making sure, in whatever way you know how and can, they know that they're loved and thought of.  It's appreciating everyone in your life, no matter their faults or shortcomings.  It's the shoulder you can depend and lean on, the ear that never hesitates to listen, the hand that always reaches out for help and the heart that sympathizes and understands before it criticizes and judges.  Happiness is being able to share that laughter, the one that comes out from deep down in your belly - uncontrollable and genuine - to the point that it makes you shed a tear.  But when those tears come from a place that hurts, happiness is also knowing that you have these people that, without a doubt, you can count on and call on for whatever reason it may be; whether it's to share bad news, to complain, to confide in, or for you to just simply talk and for them to listen.

But above all, happiness comes from within you.  That's the most important kind of happiness that everyone must try to attain.  But for some, the sad, unfair and painful realities of life has its tendency of getting in the way and letting you down more than it should.  And try as you might, looking at the positive side is not as easy as it seems.  As infectious a laughter can be, so can negativity.  It's a constant and conscious effort... and that's a choice you have to make every single day.  Choosing happiness.  I haven't mastered this art but in trying times, I certainly put my best effort to lean on the side of positivity and ultimately, happiness.  I'm not perfect; that's no secret.  But it's the effort and choices you make with genuine intentions of attaining this goal.  That also counts for something, right?

So today, the choices I made to make for a happy Sunday was a quiet brunch at a favorite French restaurant with a good friend, a nice long walk/jog, some much needed laundry, a healthy dinner, soy chocolate milk for my sweet tooth and most of all, coming across these pictures.  I mean, seriously... if this doesn't put a smile on your face, then what will?

Now that, makes me happy... :)

a sweet dispostion

Thanks, John, for linking me to this amazing cover of Sweet Disposition.

Her voice is immaculate.

: via Coffee City Music Lounge :

i heart ny

I heart NY.  I always will.  But with that city also comes a special place that holds a very soft spot in my heart - Shelter Island.

I've only come across a handful of people that actually know of this Island.  It's a small town, about 21 sq. miles, off the very eastern end of Long Island, nestled between the North and South Fork.  And the only way to get there (or out) is by ferry.  This place is covered with lush, green trees, surrounded by great blue ocean, with harbors and marinas that are littered with yachts and boats.  From restored Victorian and Colonial homes, to waterfront mansions and charming cottages and farm houses.  With only one grocery store, a K-12 school, one gas station, a pharmacy appropriately known as the "the pharmacy" which, from what I recall, also served the best breakfast bagel sandwiches.  I never truly appreciated the beauty and charm of this town until I left.

This place holds so many cherished memories and unforgotten stories of my adolescent years.  A sense of nostalgia always comes over me when I think about Shelter Island.  I can't help but reminisce about the days when all we cared about was beach-side lounging during the summer, or running through the woods or empty vacation homes in the winter, and going across the Island to Greenport for the closest movie theater or to Sag Harbor to check out cute boys. Once talks of a reunion came about, I didn't hesitate to book that ticket.  Not only because it was a chance for me to go back to New York and visit my old stomping grounds, but also to reconnect and see my friends, some who I haven't seen since I left over a decade ago.  After a 4.5 hour plane ride to La Guardia, roughly 3 hour car ride along Long Island Expressway, a 10 minute ferry ride via the North Ferry... and at last, I'm back to the place I used to call home.  I've missed it so...

So here's to the city and beyond...

:

: noodles @ the Republic :

Aside from shopping, a NY visit is never complete without seeing a few of my favorite people.

: the best god-mother ever:

: beautiful Nicole :

Shelter Island... here we come!

 

 

 

 the dock where I used to sell my own handmade beaded bracelets and necklaces

 

 the house I called home...

: so long, Shelter Island... :

 NY - I'll be back, soon enough...