10 things I've learned this week.

1. Rainy buses = super slippery
2. Coffee.  Coffee. Coffee.
3. Sometimes you just need a big push. 
4. This city takes my breath away every chance it gets. 
5. Hands covered in glue, paint and who knows what else...life as a teacher. 
6. late mornings...not my favorite...but they happen. 
7. blessed. I can't say that enough. 
8. Thankful...feeling incredibly thankful for family and friends this week. 
9. The Mindy Project....New.Favorite.Show.Ever. 
10. Brace yourselves....Seth Cohen is engaged....I KNOW. :( tear...tear...tear....

10 things I've learned this week.

1. It's okay to love where you are at in life. 
2. Blessed to be a teacher in the city
3. Avocados....all day everyday. 
4. Outside lands....it's less than two weeks away. EEEEEE!!!
5. Living on your own....incredible. 
6. I'm a grown up...when did this happen? 
7. happiness...is a beautiful thing. 
8. manicures, a girls best friend. 
9. I  could listen to young the giant all day. 
10. lattes they make my heart oh so happy. 

the weekend.

On the weekends I am up at 5am.  I can't help it. 

Sleeping in...doesn't come natural to me. I wish it did.

I blame the years of working as a barista where 5am shifts were my life.  The days where Americano's and morning machiatos were my only friends before the hours of 10am. 
Naps....those are what I crave.  Yet, even those are seldom.  My body was made for early mornings.  The mere moments of...quiet.  The moments where I can sit, write and drink coffee. The ones when not a sound is made, not a word spoken.  Complete and utter silence.  I live for those moments. 
The weekend mornings... are just mine.  Mornings made up of early runs, messy bun, no makeup and yoga pants. ~ Weekend afternoons and evening are made for a little more.... Fresh flowers, trips to the farmers market, laundry, the start of a new book, nights out, my loves, eyeliner, pink lipstick and high heels.    

I want to live.

"I'm not sure what I'll do, but --- well, I want to go places and see people.  I want my mind to grow. I want to live where things happen on a big scale."  - F. Scott Fitzgerald  Moving to the city was exactly what I was suppose to do, all along.... 

10 things I've learned this week thus far...

1. Tacos, tacos, tacos eeeeee, I love tacos!!
2. I have loved the sun in the city for these last few weeks,  but I need some cold winds and fog in my life! 
3. I wish I could go to work in pajamas...not everyday, but somedays would be nice.
4. I could live at the movies. 
5. sigh, cereal is pretty great, lets be honest. 
6. never did I ever think I would like mc hammer pants and I totes just bought a pair, completely in love with them. 
7. I want to speak french. 
8. Lists are life savers.
9. Go with the gut. Say yes to fun. 
10. HIMYM...I could watch it all day long. 

Craftman & Wolves.

There is a street in the Mission that has easily become one of favorite parts of the city, Valencia St. I catch myself hanging out there some morning, some afternoon and even some evening. It's filled with restaurants, bars, coffee shops, clothing stores and so much more. I find myself down on Valencia at least once maybe even twice a week. It's the perfect area to meet for brunch, walk around and meet for dinner and drinks at night. I love the atmosphere, the people and all that surrounds this neighborhood.  Last weekend I finally tried out one of the many bakeries that I have been dying to try since moving to the city last summer: Craftsman & Wolves. There pastries our to die for and they serve one of my favorite types of coffees, SightGlass. That makes this place that much better. The ambiance was so chill and comfortable. I can't wait to go back to lesson plan, read or just meet with friends. 

Sundays: New brunch spot day! (officially!)

Sundays.
Church and Brunch with friends. Sometimes, errands.  that is what my Sunday;s consist of.  I have officially, unofficially declared sundays as "find a new brunch spot" day!  There are so many places in this wonderful city to try that are right at my fingertips, yet there are just not enough days during the week, or time for that matter to try them all.  So, I have declared Sundays as my "find a new brunch spot' day. Anyone's invited so feel free to come.  This Sunday the weather was gorgeous out so we decided to walk to the Mission.  We tried one of the many restaurants down on Valencia St. (There are SO many!!) 
GRUB!  I was in love after first bite.  I ordered a frittatta with mushrooms and sun dried tomatoes and normally I'm not a big fan but after eye balling someone else's food I decided I had to try it!  Thank goodness i did because well it was a party in my mouth.  Not only do they have breakfast but guys, they have a MAC & CHEESE  BAR!!!  If that doesn't excite you I don't know what will.  I'm seriously counting the days to when I get to go back! 

10 things I've learned this week thus far..

1. I love teaching my kiddos
2. I dream about my morning coffee the night before....#addict
3. I love supporting neighborhood farmers markets
4. I love spending afternoons at coffee shops alone just writing, reading and blogging. 
5. I enjoy local, independent coffee shops SO much...but I also love starbs too not gonna lie. 
6. Manicures are wonderful and I love getting them every couple of weeks 
7. sushi cravings all day everyday...I don't know what I will do when one day I become pregnant. 
8. I miss taking literature classes 
9. sometimes I ease drop into peoples conversations, I love listening to other peoples lives. 
10. Being able to live in a city where I can wear boots on year long...makes me extremely happy!! 

10 things I've learned this week thus far...

1. Not enough hours in the day....#teacherproblems
2. Life size dragon projects....ambitious yes....crazy yes. Finish? Not even close.
3. New Girl should totally be an hour long
4. Flats should never be worn in the rain. period.
5. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches
6. Constructive critcism isn't meant to tare someone down
7. Never go out with wet hair...only leads to getting sick.
8. Chinatown...for a field trip suprisingly not the worst idea.
9. fortune cookies are just so good!
10. Tuesdays are the new Mondays...bleh.

I love you, San Francisco.

This pretty girl is my sister, Angelique.

She's 19.

She is gorgeous inside and out.

She just moved to the city recently.

She's an undergraduate, a photographer, an individual and a world changer.

What brought you to San Francisco?
God brought me here! God called me to move to the city last February to start a church called Canvas(canvas-sf.com). My parents are true San Franciscans (yes, the rare "born and raised" kind), and my heart always yearned to move here, but when God actually told me to "go and make disciples" I was more excited about coming to the city than ever before and I knew then why my heart was so fond of SF. I'm so happy to be here!

What do you love most about San Francisco?
I love the culture here. The walking, the decedent foods, the artistic and soulful coffee/tea houses, the music that surrounds you everywhere (on the streets, in the subway stations, in restaurants and coffeshops, etc.) I love it all. Once you come to SF you never want to be anywhere else, it's home to me.

What is your favorite spot in San Francisco?
Ooo, this is a toughie... I would have to say the view from the top of Dolores Park. It takes my breath away. You can see the whole city in all its glory. I know you can't view the bridge, or the water, or whatever, but I can see the city I love lit up and smiling back at me. It's an experience.

What is your favorite coffee/tea house in San Francisco?
That is SO hard, but as far as latte's go I love Sight Glass. As far as coffee goes, I love Blue Bottle. And as far as tea goes... I love the Grove. (sorry I didn't exactly choose one...)

What is a typical day in San Francisco like for you?
On a week day I head out and catch the M train to San Francisco State University, where I am getting my Undergrad. I commute back to the heart of the city to a local shop and grab a tea (I'm fasting coffee right now for another 7 months or so.) and buckle down on my homework.
On a weekend I catch the subway to the Castro where I work and once I get off I typically head a view blocks East to the Mission and grab some dinner with friends and some coffee and a live music show after.

Favorite place for brunch in San Francisco?
Definitely Brenda's. It's a French soul food restaurant in the Tenderloin district of SF and oh my goodness, their shrimp and grits it so die for. I definitely rank Brenda's one of the top 10 restaurants in the city.

How does San Francisco influence or inspire you as a person?
It influences me to be a person who never runs dry of ideas, as a photographer I am always in a need of a new vision and new plot for how to portray my artwork and SF gives me the material I need to let my artistry run wild. As for me as a person, this city inspires me to discover new cultures and new ways of life and to truly be accepting and loving of every person.

Favorite San Francisco memory?
Walking through the Tenderloin district (the most impoverish, substance abuse infested district) with my father as a little girl. Growing up, I was never sheltered from the evils of this world and getting to see such pain at such a young age definitely shaped me as an individual. Walking through the Tenderloin is truly one of the most humbling experiences to see people enslaved to drugs, alcohol, poverty, etc. and realize just how beautiful your life is. I have been empowered and inspired in my life to help the people in the Tenderloin through my church, Canvas. (canvas-sf.com)

In three words describe San Francisco.
Live Laugh Love..... Ha ha ha ha, I'm totally kidding. I'd have to say "Beautifully, Wonderfully Made"

10 things I've learned this week thus far....

1. There is never a dull moment on the bus
2. Really love what I do
3. Lately, I've been having a relationship with kettle corn....so good!
4. I may regret this in the future down the line BUT I seriously love writing/creating lesson plans...
5. People that are ignorant sometimes really frustrate me
6. Nsync probably will never have a reunion tour... Does that make anyone else sad?
7. I wish I cooked more
8. I am a much happier human being after I've had my coffee
9. I am madly in love with the city I live in.
10. I am an organizing machine!

Words.

“She had always wanted words, she loved them; grew up on them. Words gave her clarity, brought reason, shape.”-Michael Ondaatje

10 things I've learned this week this far...

1. Lately I've had a minor obsession with taking taxi's everywhere!
2. I could probably eat sushi everyday like every single day.
3. Need to invest in rain boots...sooner than later.
4. Kacie B seriously should of never returned to the Bachelor...justsayin
5. The hills in this city...still not getting easier.
6. I love being in a city where I can wear a scarf every single day if I choose too!
7. I have such a wonderful job!
8. Should of probably got the flu shot....
9. Avacado and Mango? How was I not aware of this combination before??!
10. 4 day weeks, could totally get used to this.

A life that sizzles and pops

This says it all: 

“I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines, and sing out loud in the car with the windows open, and wear pinkshoes, and stay up all night laughing, and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets, and throw parties, and eat ripe tomatoes, and read books so good they make me jump up and down.” 

-Shauna Niequist