Nah, I'm ah stay.

Despite a bit of a bumpy start to my morning, I found my way downtown to Dottie's Cafe for breakfast. I have previously avoided ordering pancakes at breakfast because well let's be real, pancakes always sound good at the beginning, but by the end you are flippin' sick of them. When I saw that the special  was Rice Flour Banana Pancakes they had me sold. I was in  GF breakfast heaven. When and where was I ever going to get GF banana pancakes from again?

They were delicious and the texture was no different than the normal ones.

Banana Pancakes (GF)

Enjoying the best spot in the house.

After breakfast, I had a slow morning and took my time tending to things in the house that have been overlooked, namely the cleanliness of our home. Hey, don't get me wrong its tidy, but it need a good once over. 

The focus of my afternoon was to slow down and remember to care for myself. Today's exercise in self-care was to go to hot yoga called Body Temp in the Marina. My sister, Lindsay, told me about it and encouraged me to check it out. I had been to Bikram in Florida and honestly it seemed like the worst way to exercise, ever. 

But I've recognized that the more that I allow my body to endure pain or even mild discomfort the more strength I have in keeping calm and happy. I used to miss class in college just because it was too cold out. So, yes, subjecting myself to 90 minutes of nauseating yoga is a big deal. 

Tonight, after my yoga session I feel calmer, more present, and at peace. And despite moments where I thought I was surely going to throw up, I really did enjoy the class.

I ended the night a fruit and nut recovery smoothie, sushi take out, and a fun film called the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. All in all it was a good day. I hope your Sunday is restful, I know mine will be!

p.s. don't forget that we spring forward tomorrow morning.

Shoot!

Welp, now I feel really guilty. I haven't updated this blog since December?! Shoot!

So much has happened since then! A trip home for Christmas to be with family and friends, watching NYE fireworks from the rooftop of new friend's apartments, Skyler's first project launch, a visit from Lindsay and Denny, a trip to Indiana/Michigan to be with Grandma Kay, a fire on our block, learning how to curl, a hike to the Tourist Club, and an impromptu Geographer show at the Gap.

I know I've missed significant and relevant moments, but these are the ones that come to my mind. My journey, one that I've recently recognized is actually happening, has been so full of downs and ups. Despite this there are the sweet and redeeming moments, little whispers of love, that remind me that life is surprising, unpredictable, and wonderful. It reinforces the lesson that sometimes all you need is the smallest shade to cover your head in order to keep going. There have been many days and sometimes weeks that have felt like that's all that I've had. Fortunately, that's all that I've needed.

One of those moments was this evening. Skyler is at SXSW in Austin, Texas for the week and that left me wondering "What should I do with myself?" and feeling pretty vulnerable. I was out looking for a new pair of jeans tonight and walked passed the Gap at Market and Powell. I noticed something out of the ordinary was happening inside the store so I stared for a second. A guy outside, said "You look confused. Geographer is playing a free show tonight. There's still room and free drinks if you want to go?"

It took all of one second to say YES!, get a band, and head into the Gap (of all places) to drink delicious drinks and listen to rad music. They were even passing out the cutest appetizers, mini grilled cheese sandwiches and mini hamburgers. Everyone was in a great mood and the vibe was super friendly. And so, the night that had been giving me so much concern turned out to be one of the most precious nights I've had in months. I am so thankful for this gift.

I give you my earnest and sincere word to update this blog more frequently.

Thanks for being patient with me,

 allie x--->

Giving Thanks

Even though Thanksgiving already came and went (and it was a memorable one this year!), I still feel like I'm in a state of thankfulness. Moving to San Francisco was a big decision and one that was full of a lot of unknowns. We had no place to live, I didn't have a job, and we knew very few people in the city. On top of that, it was several thousands of miles from the people we loved and cared for most.

But as I reflect on the past months of living here I can point to so many gifts of grace.

• Finding a small space to call our own (in a great neighborhood and in our budget);  
• Being apart of the Newbigin Fellowship where we've had the chance to learn, ask questions, and grow in our understanding of God and ourselves;
• Being given an opportunity to work with some great people at a new and unexpected job;
• Entering into a Church community with a heart for seeing the city renewed;
• Skyler was given an opportunity to work on a product that reaches a billion people;
• We were given two weeks to explore the city and surrounding areas (Carmel, Big Sur, Monterey,  Mt.  Tamalpais, and Bolinas) 
• Time with dear friends and new friends in Tahoe.

As the Advent season begins my current posture of giving thanks has really increased my longings for Christ to be more present in my life. I am so excited about Advent that it's constantly been on my mind. I hope that despite the busyness of December I will be able to find a quiet space in my mind and life to focus on what really matters this season. I hope you will too.

This is the closest thing you will get to a Christmas card. So I hope you enjoy it!

The little things

It's hard to share the mundane parts of life. I think "certainly no one wants to read about that." But this perspective has forced me to look at everyday life and what I value in my day.

Can the brisk early morning runs, the mid-afternoon coffee breaks, and the nights spent at home be more celebrated?

Yes. 

My resolution is to talk more about the little things.

Some little things that have happened lately:

I signed up for my first half marathon.

I had small successes with a company website. (Microsoft is the worst)

Grace in the moments where I feel defeated.

Chimes Ginger Chews to snack on.

Chats with a quiet co-worker on the walk to the Bart station.

Familiarity of new friends.

Showing up to an event wearing the same adorable polka dot popover as my friend.

Glimpses of beauty outside my office window.

Quiet rooftop moments. 

A Hip Hooray for those little things that have helped me be more present.

Quelle Weekend!

This past weekend was the first time we got to host a friend! It was so fun to show Ashley our neighborhood and spend the weekend exploring.

Friday
Lunch at the Ferry Building at Delica (an amazing Japanese Californian fusion restaurant) and then dinner at my favorite neighborhood Indian spot Indian Oven. They never disappoint.

Saturday
We got up early to explore Land's End. The weather was really warm and it made for a great hike.

Travelled south to Half Moon Bay, where I got to pick out two adorable little pumpkins for our tiny stoop and Ashley grabbed some fruit from a road side stand. 

Next we stopped at Facebook to have a look around and enjoy some refreshments. 

From there we headed back to the city to find Halloween costumes and enjoy some yummy pizza and spicy cauliflower at Delfina in the Mission. Yes, those YSL sparkle jeans do reach my rib cage.

Sunday
After church we enjoyed an afternoon in Sonoma and tasted a few wines. The views are so stunning.

And when we came home this happened!

And then THIS!

All in all it was a pretty fun and eventful weekend. I can't wait for our next visitor!

The Giants

The Giants are in the world series. Game two tonight was another win for the Giants!

The city feels very spirited and alive. I'm not that crazy about baseball but it is fun to cheer for the home team.

Good job men!

I'm taking a much needed night off from the busy-ness of life and hanging out with Skyler, baking mini-apple brown betties, and watching the french film Monsieur Lazhar.

Bonne nuit!

Anniversaire

This past week we celebrated our third anniversary(!!). We both were in transitions with jobs (unemployed) so we took advantage of the time and went to TreeBones Resort in Big Sur.

This place is amazing!

The best part is the views, non-existant cell reception, the quiet, and the uninterrupted views of the stars. The trip was super last minute, but we managed to get a camping spot with the best view.

We ate like kings and enjoyed hearing real nature sounds.

As I think about all that has happened and all that has changed I realize how much my marriage has stretched me and shaped me into a better person.

Let's be real for a second.

Marriage is hard. Selflessness is hard. Love is hard. But I am thankful for a man that promised and committed to doing this very difficult, sometimes impossible thing, with me called marriage.

Thank you for everyday of your love. Here's to another year.