on 34.

it is my birthday today

i am turning 34

no grand plans of celebration ahead

just a happy heart and lots to be thankful for

it feels good to grow old

with the ones i love

{ via }

on a new year.

although I am a big fan of plans, to-do lists and resolutions, this year I am all for one big goal: on being better. a better me with a greater intention to better the lives of the ones around me.
my whole family got sick over new years and things quickly got a new perspective in my head. I have the tendency to plan and wish for perfection, always. being responsible for two little kids routines, an entrepreneur career, a house in constant remodel, plus marriage and the lack of family around can take stress to a whole new level for me. for this first week of the year all I did was to care for my family and to be cared for. I had a non planned forced break, a well deserved one. life can get funny and surprising sometimes. and illness can be like a great storm that hurts and shakes you but goes away. to me, this time around it served as an opportunity for a recharge. to rethink on priorities and to just be thankful for what i've got. this year I am ready for rainbows, the big bright ones that come after the rain. and not to sit and wait for them, but to search for it and perhaps create one if they being hard to find.
the new perspective is to take it easy. to keep on dreaming big with a lighter heart.

*awesome and SO appropriate card by emily mcdowell

on wishes.

xmas day is near... such a good time to be thankful for the blessings received and to aim for a better future. over here, dreaming of greater days ahead by planning on improvement; to be a more patient mom, a friend that reaches out, a wife that compromises and someone who really commits. for me and for others. the daily grind can for sure leave us out of breath, no time, no sanity, just stress. this holiday season all I want is to be near the ones I love to cherish and to hold them tight in joy and gratitude. for the coming year may we all spread the cheer that invades our hearts during the season, xo.

on being grateful.

glad for the season and the pause to be thankful. my heart is filled with so much gratitude for family, friends, love and health. a great time to reach out and help who really needs. may a wonderful holiday time begin to us all ♥

on halloween.

the pretty colors, crispy air, crunchy leaves, carving pumpkins, and all the excitement of trick or treating with the family and friends - what's not to like about halloween?!! hope you have a fabulous and spooky one ;)

on squash, again.

this past weekend I got to purchase these beautiful squash illustrations from laura zindel to fancy up the season decor around the house - can't wait to get them in the mail.

as far as life, I have been truly enjoying a quite rare and long spread of sunshine in the pacific northwest. to be honest, for the past eight years living in seattle I can not remember such sunny and warm october days. the family got to go to the farm and it was heaven. no mud, no cold breeze. just a gorgeous blue sky, lovely sunflowers looking up and big orange pumpkins on the ground waiting to be picked up. 

feeling happy and blessed lately - it might just be all the magic brought by fall coloring up my heart.

{img from west elm}

on fall.

fall is here and so is the change of weather; the cooler temperatures, the warmer colors and all the beautiful crispy mornings to come - excited to spend the week putting up some autumn hues around the house and on making the transition inside of my heart to welcome the new season. you see, I love fall but I also feel a bit sad when its finally here because its means that the sun at some point will go away for a long long time. life in seattle! it feels like the first warning, like being reminded to enjoy every single ray of sunshine while I can, cause it won't last long. so on being positive I try to focus on all the things that make me happy throughout the season. this is when my love for soups and teas, boots and comfy sweaters grow big. and to properly welcome these changes I found this amazing soup recipe over at Amanda's blog. red wine butternut squash minestrone. oh! the joy of a good warm and hearty meal ;)

{amazing photo and recipe via marshalls abroad}