yes, and...

via kindlingplayandtraining

I've been taking an improv class and one of the first things you learn in improv is to say "Yes, and...". What this means is that you agree to what your partner is saying, embrace their ideas, accept what is being presented to you, and then add your own thoughts to create something together.

I never thought about applying this rule to my life until I read this article from Tina Fey. It really resonated with me because there have been many, many times that I have also felt that...

"Maybe I'm not quite ready. Maybe it's a little early for this to happen to me."

...and instead of saying "Yes!", I say "No." What I'm realizing (slowly, but surely) is that by saying "No" all the time I'm not allowing for growth or change— or for great things to happen. Most importantly I'm not opening up to opportunities to create my happy.

I want to say "YES" more because:

"saying yes allows you to move forward."

Even if I don't know how, even if I have doubts and fears, I want to say yes. It reminds me of her 7 Notes on Life. (start watching at 15:55)

anniversary date

I've been wanting to share a few pics from our anniversary date. We kept it simple for year four and just went out for an amazing dinner at Las Tablas. We live around the corner from this restaurant and couldn't believe that was our first time there. We had the most delicious meal and it's BYOB Monday thru Thursday! We'll definitely be dining there again especially during the summer when we can sit outside and drink mojitos!

How I'm longing to be here again where we celebrated our first anniversary in the warmth and sunshine, near the beach watching the sunset.

week in photos

12.30.12 - 169

12.31.12 - 170

1.01.13 - 171

1.02.13 - 172

1.03.13 - 173

1.04.13 - 174

1.05.13 - 175

a decade

Ten years ago today I met my best friend and life with him has been grand ever since.

week in photos

12.23.12 - 162

12.24.12 - 163

12.25.12 - 164

12.26.12 - 165

12.27.12 - 166

12.28.12 - 167

12.29.12 - 168

week in photos

12.16.12 - 155

12.17.12 - 156

12.18.12 - 157

12.19.12 - 158

12.20.12 - 159

12.21.12 - 160

12.22.12 - 161

year four

via eric-schwab

"What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it’s easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it’s in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one’s dreams would have no meaning."

~ The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Happy Anniversary, husband! All the moments of being your wife these past four years have been amazing. Thank you for giving my dreams meaning.

2013

via greenlikebathwater

Happy New Year!

We rang in the New Year with friends: eating fondue and homemade creme brulee, drinking champagne, and watching the fireworks at Navy Pier from their apartment. It was a fun, low-key New Year's and I can't think of a better way to have started 2013 then being surrounded by awesome people, especially him.

I'm looking forward to what adventures await this year, what magic will be created, what stories will be told... I think it's going to be a good year!