Category: relationships

Jan 6 2026

 “Paris is always a good idea.” Audrey Hepburn

“Traveling, it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” Ibn Battuta

Photo by Ono Kosuk

This weekend, my thoughts began to wander to destinations unseen. It happens every year, multiple times a year to me. I get restless when “there is nothing on the calendar” and then want to begin planning a trip. There is little else that inspires the deep research done to perfect the one week a year my family spends as a foursome.

Unfortunately, no plans can be made until new employment is solidified – working on that and hope this week proves fruitful with new role applications and networking outreach. That shared, I still am wondering what kind of summer family trip we can pull off. Could we get to a national park? Or maybe a local trip to explore an area of our own state we’ve not seen. Last year, was Paris. Two years ago, we visited family in CO. then journeyed to the Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. It was overwhelming to see and understand such beautiful places exist in the world, and I am grateful to have seen, hiked and visited these places.

Vail Colorado 2023 – photo is mine.

Hiking the Grand Tetons 2023 – photo is mine.

Yellowstone 2023 – photo is mine.

Horseback riding in Yellowstone 2023 – photo is mine.

Last year’s trip almost didn’t happen thanks to job loss #1 but I landed somewhere and got going on the work. This also meant I got going on planning the ultimate family vacation to Paris, visiting the usual and some unusual spots while enjoying apartment life in one of the Parisian arrondissements. I can go on and on about these trips. Our adventures have taken us on a roadtrip from California’s LA to San Francisco on Pacific Highway 1 and the southern coast of Iceland. We’ve hopped around London and sunned in Greece…Work has taken me to Cannes, Vevey, and Geneva.

Me and the Eiffel Tower 2024 – photo is mine.

A small corner of Versailles 2024 – photo is mine.

GRATEFUL: So very grateful for the ability to see these places with my favorite people. Travel changes you: you bring your exploration home with you, becoming part of your DNA. While the calendar may be bare on Jan 6… I am optimistic for a summer adventure: local or afar. Time will tell. In the meantime…

What are your travel plans this year?

Jan 3 2025

“A cardinal lives in a tree of hope and love. (S)He is the guardian of all our wishes and dreams.”– Unknown.

Photo by Dmitri Sotnikov

Day three. What have I added to my day? Exercise. A gym trip today is needed, and I will go with B. – maybe even N? Need a moment to do some college work for B.

I am glad for the holidays, yet I am eager to return our home to its normal undecorated state. The incoming cold temps coming to the NE make me eager to hibernate this weekend while also including time to see visiting family tonight and Sunday. Fireplaces, red wine, and a good book are on my mind. Also, there will be another viewing of Wicked, if I am being honest. 🙂

WEAR: Gotta be honest. All the hype around expensive leggings has me appreciating my Crzy Yoga Amazon find. These are in heavy rotation: a great deep brown color for the girlies staying on trend.

EAT: Dinner plans tonight: homemade pizza! Great dough recipe here. B. made one NYE and topped it with ricotta, fresh figs, mushrooms, and prosciutto. Immediately a fam. favorite.

GRATITUDE: Coffee with Hubs., communication with my BILs, a plan to see my parents before they fly to warmer climes, and an unexpected morning visitor…

As I sat here this morning, I was visited by a female cardinal with a perfect red-orange plume. She landed and paused on the windowsill, looking into my office and watching me for a moment before taking flight again. It felt extraordinary to have a personal visit from her, and it served as a reminder to put some birdfeed out.

There is lore about cardinals being a divine visit from angels or someone you loved who passed. Female cardinals hold their legacy as symbols of the strength and resilience of women, encouraging their humans to embrace their unique qualities and stand tall in their endeavors. Her presence hints at hidden strength and the courage to tackle life’s challenges.

A beautiful message for the day and one I am grateful for.

2025: New Year, New Focus.

Photo by Viridiana Rivera: https://www.pexels.com/photo/minimalist-2025-chalkboard-sign-on-vibrant-background-29996961/

Happy 2025!!

It’s been about a year since my last entry. Journaling has always been a struggle. This time, I want to flip this on its head. I am archiving posts to move into gratitude and positive thoughts. One of my firm beliefs is that you get what you give. Another more straightforward way of thinking about this is Karma. With this in mind, I want to focus on sharing joy, gratitude, and appreciation for where I am. I will walk away from what I perceive to be missing. I would love your thoughts: the inbox is open, as are comments.

Gratitude: I am grateful for my healthy parents coming over for the first dinner of 2025 and watching Wicked with us. N is home from school, and his girlfriend is here enjoying the time together for this fresh start. I am thankful for T., who handled our New Year Balloons with zeal, creating a festive vibe for us that lasted long after the kiddos left for their evening plans.

Reading: I recently started reading Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara. Still working through character dev., and am getting to the more interesting characters. Hope to find a little reading time today. Find it here.

Wearing: Still in these star PJs, which seemed the right way to bring in the new year!

Eating: I made sausage lasagna yesterday for today’s dinner – understanding that after a late night, I would not be up for anything more than reheating. The recipe I followed is one part courtesy of Alison Roman and the NY Time Cooking app and one part experience making lasagna for others.

What are you doing today?