Obrigada

Ten,  times a day I'd think "Ahh. I'm in paradise"+

Nine, in the morning, is how late (early?) they party in Lisbon+

Eight days in total+

Seven stunning sunsets+

Six books+

Five days by the pool+

Four delicious varieties of olive oil at an amazing wine tasting/lunch+

Three hour drive to the incredible Herdade Do Esporao

Two dinners at my favorite Praiha de Roche restaurant=

One week of bliss in Portugal

3+3=Happy Me

Every year, my day of birth brings me a great deal of anxiety. I typically plan a big party, bake a ton of mini cupcakes and have several little traditions of making the day special.  I like to write thank you cards to everyone. It's a handwritten grateful gratzie that allows me to feel like I'm doing something nice for people on a day when I may not be able to handle the kindness that comes my way.  I like to hand out mini cupcakes with candles and have everyone wish together (I got to do this!) but new things happened: like having someone get me a cake! I can't remember the last birthday that this happened...but it was wonderful and lovely and happy. This year I was totally sick (apparently the affliction of Taurus' are throat and neck issues. Maybe this explains my twice annual laryngitis episodes..). and didn't plan a darn stinking thing. Lucky for me, I happen to have a wonderful boyfriend who put something together with all my favorite neighbor peeps. I am beyond lucky in my life. I'm so fortunate to have so many wonderful people surrounding me at all times and making my life great. 

Cards for my loves+

Date night dinner at Porsena where they even had a gift waiting for me!

Carrot Ginger Vegan Cupcakes with Orange Butter cream (and GOLD STARS!)+

TRex Spectacular+ 

Flowers and Balloons Delights (Babs filled the balloons with messages from all my friends! We popped the balloons and got the cards inside)+

The best birthday cake I've ever had+

Letting go of the black balloon (I had to write down something I wanted to let go of this year...heeaavvvy)=

Bday 33 Complete!

Live it Out

After an unexpected trip to CA due to a family tragedy, I came back to New York and I've been feeling a bit out of sorts. Typically, my dad and I spend Spring Break going on a trip together. It's an amazing time for us to share stories, reminisce, build new memories and just enjoy each other's company. Instead, I spent most of the week inside my apartment. After a week of feeling totally blah (and after listening to perfect advice from a wonderful friend) I realized that I  can't take care of other people unless I take care of myself first. I wasn't sleeping, kept forgetting to eat dinner and was a general mess! I started thinking about the things I would do as a kid to take care of myself and what I did to enjoy my time and make my life great. Some of my favorite memories as a kid are: curling up in bed with a good book or my most recent Calvin and Hobbes, dancing my little heart out all afternoon long at Joan Golden Dance Studio or choreographing solos in my bedroom to ridiculous music, doing impersonations (apparently I loved doing this for my parents), spending time with friends, writing in my journal and just being an overall happy person. I think it's time to bring it back.

HOW TO LIVE LIKE A KID:

1. Learn something new:

Every week, I used to memorize a new vocabulary word. Since when did that go out of style? Now, I keep a list of words on my phone that are new to me and that I love, but why not seek out more? 

Word of the week: 

Amanuensis (noun)

1

a person who writes down your words when you cannot write, for example if you are injured and have an exam2an assistant, especially one who writes or types for somebody
Use it in a sentence: I needed an amanuensis for Summer of Tammi recently, as I've been too darn busy to create a post. 

2. Play outside. 

I kept myself holed up in my apartment and realized after three days that I needed to get out. Just being outdoors in the sunshine makes everything better. One of my favorite pictures from my childhood is me with my cousins--in our bathing suits, in the grass, licking Popsicles--time to get outside and explore.

3. Try new things: 

When I was little, I had these cookbooks that I loved to make dinner from. I would cull my favorite recipes and try them out on the family. These days, I sometimes fall back into what's comfortable. I forced myself to make some new treats. Sometimes it's scary doing new things, but I have to remind myself, what's the worst that can happen?

4. Write thank you notes: 

When you're a kid, you are always required to write a thank you note. Why do people stop doing this as adults? I'm a lover of all notes, especially thank yous and realized I haven't had a Grateful Grazie in awhile either...time to get crackin'.

5. Cry....a little, or a lot. Yeah, whatevs, I cry.  Sometimes crying just helps.

6. Love and Be Happy: 

As children, we just do the things that make us happy. We spend time with the people we like. We don't bother to eat the foods we hate or play with the mean kids on the playground. 

I need to spend more time with the people I love and the ones who love and support me.