stranger than fiction

I just saw this movie last night with Laura and Dre... it was playing at a $3 theater that we could walk to from there place... I know, how great is that!

I just have to say, I LOVED the movie! It was so cute. (I know Laura may not agree with as much enthusiasm considering she fell a sleep during it)... but I for one would recommend it to anyone in the mood for a cute, feel good movie.

Maggie Gyllenhaal is in it and of course she herself is adorable, but I just loved her character Ana in the movie. She owns this darling bakery and at one point made the comment that she likes to make cookies because they make people happy.

So yes, of course, as you may suspect, this morning I had to bake a batch of cookies. There's just something about baking cookies that I find so enjoyable... which I also have plans to bake cupcakes this weekend as Laura has a friend whose birthday is coming up and of course, I'll jump at anything that gives me a reason to bake.

So as I just wrote about owning a place like bo Notes & becca Books (read below), I actually do hope that someday—maybe—I'll actually be able to bake cookies and sweets in my own little place that people will come to because, well... cookies make people happy.

bo Notes & becca Books

Through out high school, I was constantly using the computer to make things, cards, school projects, t-shirts and such... hence the reason I had the idea of going into the graphic design field. It was Bo though who really introduced me to the idea of cut-n-paste to make cute little things... she really was a creative inspiration for me. So while she would make cute little cards, I was usually working on designing books. I don't really recall exactly when, probably on one of our numerous walks/runs around the cute little neighborhood of Sherman Hill or Germania Drive, but we decided that someday we would own a cute little place for bo Notes & becca Books . As we continue through our journey in life, I can still see this place in my mind. It even grows and becomes more as I think about what it could be... I could bake pastries and have a coffee bar with teas and such, cute little tables and a variety of uniquely different chairs, a stand of bo Notes and various cards and papers, and of course, books everywhere, stacked on the floor, filling the shelves, the walls decorated with amatuer art. The utlimate hang out for the creative soul to be inspired.

It just so happened that I got an fun phone call from bo the other night, her and her roommate Jenny just had a great idea for a book... it would be called Taste Buds a book to inspire creative cooking. Of course I love it! I hope they continue to develope the idea and hope that I can help them design it and contribute in anyway. What I found to be so interesting is, well bo may not know this, but I've been spending my free time actually creating cards. For awhile I struggled with a brand for my stuff, bo Notes just works so well for bo, but what about me? Well, it just so happened the other day I had an idea... if I were ever to create cards to be purchased... I'd call them stamp included as I'd sell each one with a stamp on the envelope, so that one could easily write a note in the card and drop it into a mail box because the postage is already paid. It's just an idea right now, but I think it would go over well... I've even started to doodle logo ideas.

Regardless, this realization of how the tables have turned, bo and I should reconsider the name for our place because bo Notes & becca Books probably won't portray the essence of the place completely.

spread it around

It just so happened that the very next day after I wrote about the nickname Andy gave me in my Title: blog, I got the sweetest e-mail from him. In the Sack Lunch book that I created with Karri, there's a whole section of affirmation notes that Karri kept that we made into a cute little love sandwich. As I often keep little notes and such that others give me too, there's something about his that makes me just want to share it too.

Every once in awhile we meet up with truly special people who make life so much better and seem as though they've been part of our lives forever and hopefully will be forever more.
And in my life, Lucky, you're one of 'em. It's great to watch a true star grow brighter and brighter.

of course I had to reply to something so sweet and his next response was just as sweet...

I'm glad you're enjoying your ride in Cali. I too think it was meant to be. You can't keep your warmth and talent and awesome laughter in Iowa. You got to spread it around and share it with the world!

I took those words to heart because they were actually something I really needed to here this particular day. I've often questioned my purpose in life, what to make of my career, finding love and my desires to be a caregiver... Regardless, I've always known and have asked the Lord to always help me be an example of His light throughout my journey in life.

Each day when I drive into the parking garage at work, there's a parking attendant who always gives me the biggest smile and a huge wave, which always reminds me that life is good... and I too want to be that reminder of joy for others.

As I've been thinking about life a lot latetly and the decisions we have to make to get where we are... I find it interesting to think about how our own decisions not only effect us, but indirectly effect others.... and sometimes the significance isn't realized until much later.

For example, my junior year when I decided second semester to become an RA. I remember feeling bad about leaving Andrea and Bo and felt I was letting them down, but because I left, Laura was able to move in with the girls and well, look at us all now. Crazy to think that if I wouldn't have left, who knows if we ever would have met Laura. I remember too throughout that semester though, there were times I actually felt like I was replaced. But then again, I know now that I wasn't and come to think of it, I had so many of my residents come to me with words of appreciation, so I was glad I had the opportunity to share the light with them.

Interesting enough though, the following year I made a choice that had an opposite effect. Yet again, I decided to move out of the apartment with Bo, Andrea and Lynette and this time to help out two other girls that I really wanted to befriend. As much as I tried and struggled through that semester, I realized that sometimes, there's only so much you can do to help someone out who doesn't want to receive it. Fortunalely, I was able to move back in with the girls and honestly, while there were a lot of other things that also occured because of the situation, I know that because I moved out, I was truly able to see how amazing Bo, Andrea and Lynnette are and how blessed I am to have their friendship.

So as I made the choice to leave Iowa, I've already been creating mental lists of why I'm suppose to be in LA, and as much as I think about the reasons and as much as I've noticed that I've learned already, I know time will only tell what's suppuse to come of it all. I just know that life shouldn't be about regrets or what-ifs and I know that with any situation or change, something good is to come of it. I'm just going to keep on smiling and as Andy said, share my joy with the world as the Lord is good and I'm going to trust Him with it all!

broomball

I just had a great conversation with my friend Pat. He's been in Minneapolis briefly for work and will be moving back to New York by the end of the month, but he remembered how much I talked about loving broomball that he ended up joining a league during his time in MN. Of course he had to complain about how sore he would be after a game and how beaten up one gets... which I think is one reason I did enjoy the sport so much. As one would imagine, I miss the fact that I won't be able to play broomball this year, but I found out from my friend Karri that my old team still got together again for this season and even kept the same team name. Oh how I remember the amount of phone calls I had to make and the convincing I had to do to get enough people to play, and now they are all hooked. I have to say I'm enjoying the warm california sun, and can't even imagine how could it must be back home, but someday I know I'll find my way to get back on the ice for some good ol' broomball action.

sweet date

janelle was just in LA for the weekend and we shared the most amazing time together, checking out all the sights, going shopping, and just enjoying the fact that we were able to spend time together.
the first night she got in, we went to A.O.C. one of the most reviewed restaurant in LA with a fabulous menu of small plates created by chef Suzanne Goin (yes, now working at Bon Appetit and knowing someone of the culinary field, I find it important to mention the chef just as any one else would an artist or author of another sort) The first dish we shared were roasted dates stuffed with parmessan and wrapped in bacon... it was like a bite of heaven. On our last evening together Janelle really wanted to just experience the Whole Foods market, get some great cheeses and other small dishes. I couldn't help but want to pick up some dates and experiment with the flavors myself. I so happened to have a sweet potato which I thinly sliced and roasted with a sliced golden delicious apple and chopped dates. As I thought, the flavor combination was good, the presentation still needs work. It so happened that for Christmas Janelle and Jaimi gave me this cute little notebook for cooking notes. Janelle, the marketing guru she is, suggested that when I create something like such, I should also write down any experiences that go with it as it would be cute to include a little story with such dishes that could potentially appear on menus or cookbooks. I obvioulsy love the idea and while I'll continue to work on the flavor combo, I think I'm already sold on the name sweet date.

Title:

welcome to my blog.

since my journey to LA and other new experiences and emotions that I've recently encountered, I've had an urge to start writing some of my thoughts down. I have often heard that there are many benefits to journaling and I've tried to do so before, but have often failed to keep up with it. I don't know if it's because I now have more time to myself to actually sit down and do so, but I have been writing more, not only in my journal, but also sending out more hand written notes and cards to those who are dear to me. I have found it all to be very enjoyable.

Some of my friends have started blogs and I'm not sure if they know this or not, but I have them bookmarked and click on them each week to see if they've posted anything new. I enjoy the fact that they put it out there for me to take a peak at what's on there mind or what else they've been up to. So I decided I'd do the same. My thoughts are out there for you to read at your leisure, of course I don't expect you to find it all that interesting, just another glimpse for you to see who I am....

As I created the blog space, there's always that first question as to what the title will be. I pondered it for a couple of days, Laura suggested using a nickname or such. My instant reaction was they are all pretty typical::: most commonly becca, or there's also bex (I'll forever thank Gina for this one—I fell in love with it pretty much because of the "x", yes I'm a typographical design nerd) For a moment I though the nickname Joe Boehm gave me could be fun::: the bex-miester, but then again, I didn't have any great ideas of how to make a cute title out of them. Then I remembered that Andy Lyons gave me the nickname Lucky. He just decided it one day on a photo shoot. I asked him why... but he didn't really say, he just thought it was a good name for me. This one I thought about for awhile and it dawned on me that it really is a good nickname, I truly am Lucky!

Over and over I look at where I am in my life and see how blessed I am to have the family and friends I do. They are so amazing and dear to me as they've made me who I am today. Even throughout my life journeys, I've had some of the best mentors to inspire me and have befriended various people in different moments that I still think about and appreciate what they have given me at that point in time. As I've come to understand that the opportunity to give back to those we encounter for a moment isn't always going to be there, but I know that a simple thought can become a prayer, and I was taught that that counts for a lot. As far as those who remain continuously dear, I've noticed through the years how amazing it to see the relationships grow as it's necessary to both give and receive... and like I've said, I feel I've been so lucky to receive so much that I don't think I could ever give enough back to them all.

As I continued to think about using Lucky as the title, it almost didn't seem right. It didn't really get to what this blog is to be about. I started to flip through some of my books... which is what I often do when I need some inspiration, and as one would expect, there were some great titles right in front of me. Spilling Open is a beautiful book by Sabrina Ward Harrison, she's a young artist and who expresses herself through her artwork... as the tagline of her book states "the art of becoming yourself." Another book I have is Living Out Loud by Keri Smith, which is full of "activities to fuel a creative life."

So that's were I stopped, I didn't want to ponder the subject much more and will probably just "borrow" the title for now.... If you do have any suggestions though, I'd love to hear them.

charming studio

I could go on and describe my little LA studio, but as the saying goes,
a picture is worth a thousand words.






I just have to say, I am still amazed that within two days of driving around LA and aimlessly searching craig's list for apartments, I was able to happen upon this great little place that all my stuff just perfectly fits into and is comfortable enough for just me. As Janelle described it when she came to visit, it's like a mini Lexington. Of course my favorite part happens to be the kitchen and how suiting that it was already painted yellow.