Top Ten {Tuesdays} I Can't Live Without...

My Top Ten for the week :) Things I Can't Live Without







1. My new bracelet I got while in Mammoth Lakes, CA. I am obsessed with it and wear it everyday! It is a tightly woven black nylon bracelet with a silver peace sign with clear rhinestones by Tai. It is the one on the right side. The brown was cute, but I don't wear enough brown, and the peace sign looks cute when I wear it on my left wrist with my heart tattoo.





2. Pomegranate Exfoliating Face Mask by Murad is absolutely AMAZING! I tried it out for the first time last night and my face was all tingly, happy and soft! It felt like instant hydration! And the tiny little box contains 6 masks! LOVE IT! We sell this handy little package at my work, I hardly get a discount, but $22.50 for 6 amazing masks?! What a steal!



3. Walks in the sand at sunset at the edge of the world, the wind styling my hair, the salt teasing my lips. I love living so close to the water, it is my sanctuary. Even on bad days, I can walk down to the beach and be caressed by the sweet, warm breeze. It is so calming to be standing at the edge of the water, the sand washing back into the sea under my feet. Yes, that picture is one of where I live.. lucky me.

4. My black Rainbow Sandals with clear crystals are a MUST HAVE for me. When I have days where I misplace them, I panic, and search frantically. These are the most comfy sandals and always make my feet look pretty even when I don't have a chance to get a pedicure! I want to get them in every color! I have had these for a couple years now, and they still look brand new!




5. A daily planner is constantly in my purse! If I don't have it with me, I feel lost. If I don't write down ideas, plans, appointments, work schedules, immediately - I completely forget everything! Of course it has to be cute, and pretty. I also have this weird obsession with journals. My mom likes to make fun of me for it. I have tons of pretty journals lined up on my bookshelf, waiting for me to write my heart away in.




6. Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm and AH! I have, of course, misplaced one of my (several) Burt's Lip Balms at the moment and it is driving me insane! I have this weird obsession with pomegranate as well right now.. But lip balm is my "go to" item when I get nervous or need something to do with my hands... Plus, I hate having chapped lips!




7. My Gaiam aluminum water bottle is another "always in my purse" item. Reusable and extremely durable (as my clumsy hands often drop things), it is handy and good for the environment! Plus, it is pretty to drink out of, so I want to drink more out of it! Goodbye dehydration! Hello water intake! Oh, did I mention, I have basically quit drinking everything but juice, tea and water? No more sodas for me! More Gaiam pretty bottles filled with water!


8. Asics Running Shoes even though it seems that I walk in them more often then run, but they are extremely comfy and mold to my foot with its gel cushioning. Plus, they aren't incredibly pricy and the color blue is my favorite! So I can't go wrong with these! They accompany me on my beach runs every time!

9. My iphone. Yes, I said it... I have to have my phone. It has everything on it! Pictures of my life, family and friends for when I get lonely, music to pump up my moods, fun games to kill boredom, finance trackers to keep me in line, calendars (yes, even though I ALSO have my planner), and of course numbers of people I love. Oh, and my favorite new app "Shazam" which helps me identify cool new songs I hear on the radio :)

10. Sushi!!! Oh I can't imagine a life without sushi! It is hands down my favorite food and if I had the funds, I would eat it everyday! Just thinking about it is making my mouth water... hmm, maybe it will be a sushi night! Right now my favorite is a plate at this hole in the wall place by my house called 9 Style Sushi, and it is albacore sashimi with thinly sliced tomato (I normally don't like those..) and avocado with a tasty sauce on top.. Oooh.. I'm hungry now..


Anyways, there are my Top Ten Things I Can't Live Without...

Happy Tuesday!

What To Do...

So, here I am, sitting on my couch back in the United States after my internship in Italy failed. What a disappointment! I was supposed to be there for 6 months, working and exploring Italy on my days off. However, nothing ever works how it is supposed to when it comes to my life. It's true. The story of my life - ups and downs of my dreams and their failures.

Don't get me wrong, my week in Italy was amazing until I learned that my internship was not what it was supposed to be! I explored Rome, Siena, Naples, Pompeii and Sorrento in that short time and really covered a lot of ground!

The past two days that I have been home have been insane! There was a hand grenade dropped on the I-5 freeway in my hometown of San Clemente, CA and yesterday the earthquake in Chile had created a Tsunami Advisory for my town! Something tells me that I am not supposed to be here. As much as I love this quaint beach town, I am needing change. I am ready to move back to Colorado and finish my last semester in school, graduate and hopefully find a decent job.

I haven't been able to drag myself out of the house after having such a huge let down in Italy. I went to dinner last night with my mom and my sister Caila at 9 Style Sushi which is just up the street from my mother's house - oh, did I mention, I am now without a place to live or a job since I gave up everything for my Italy internship? And today, it was hard to force myself to get up and shower. It is rather pathetic I know, but I was so excited for this. I thought living and working in Italy was going to change my life.

Like I said before, I'm looking for change...

Costa Rica Recap

Some mornings I wake to screaming monkeys, sometimes to fighting wild turkeys, or singing macaws.  I do love the wildlife - even when it disturbs my sleep. Or.. get chased or jumped at by the monkeys. That is always fun - as I run off screaming in tears!

We have gone surfing, and swimming and ziplining and floated down the river and ridden ATVs and so much more. This trip was great even though I spent half of it nursing my aching shoulder. We went on horseback rides, went to friends dinner parties. It was really, really a fun trip. Dad played jokes and the kids and I bonded and had a blast. We watched SO many movies, as they don't have cable. We go down to the DVD place and almost watched a new movie every night. Of course, we spent our Sunday afternoons watching football games in an air-conditioned bar!

My favorite part about this trip was getting to sit on the back of the jet ski while watching my dad, his friend Charlie, a camp kid Bret and my brother James do tow-ins to the huge waves! Oh how incredible that was! These huge thundering waves building as they quietly make their way down the wave, peacefully.

I love the food here. Ah, how delicious is the fish and the fruit! I could eat this everyday! In fact, I think that I did! Along with a few sweets here and there... mmm gelato...

Saying goodbye to my family was sad and I was pretty surprised about how real my emotions were for this family that is still really new to me.  I almost cried - I truly love them with all of my heart.

I had a few "self-improvement" thoughts when I was out there.. Such as language classes while in Italy, how beneficial that would be! Maybe, I can make some friends in the city that way. Also, I have a book idea.. but, I will save that idea for myself as I work on it this year.. :) I will keep you posted. I promise.

I did battle myself quite often. I think of him often, especially when I'm alone at night. I worry about Italy and what I am going to do with my life. I have so much to figure out. Should it really be this tough? My friend in Colorado had her mother pass away, I broke down and called my mommy crying and telling her how much I loved her. My heart broke for them that day. I still hurt for them.

My mind is often my prison where self-torture is more often then not.. its unfortunate. Somedays I hate myself. I have so much in this life that is at my fingertips. I can live the life. But I don't. It's almost like I refuse to allow myself the pleasure of living. All I feel is - alone.

I have the world in my palms.