Summer in January?

It has sure felt like summer this week in San Diego! Not to brag to my East Coast friends and family who have been battling snow and ice, but the weather has been AMAZING here. It's nicer than when I got out here in July! It's been hovering in the 70's since middle of last week, except for one "chilly" day on Wednesday when it only got to 61 degrees - haha! Californians definition of "chilly" is a bit different than what is is back East :) Last weekend I stayed outside as much as possible soaking up the vitamin D from the sun. It was in the high 70s all weekend and absolutely gorgeous! Saturday I got up early and headed to the Mercato Farmers' Market to meet a friend from work and her husband who also live in Little Italy. This is the most amazing Farmers' Market I've ever been too... fresh California produce, beautiful flowers, crepes, coffee stands, fresh herbs, crafts, musicians, homemade pastas, meats, pastries, breads... I feel like I'm in Italy! I had a delicious chocolate and banana crepe for breakfast while listening to street musicians... can't get much more European than that!

It's also such a dog friendly neighborhood, and everyone brings their furry friends to the Mercato on Saturday mornings. There's a few dog booths with treats and toys. There's even a place to get portraits of your pet made by an artist. Don't make fun, but I'm considering getting one made this Saturday. They were also selling "Dogs of Little Italy" calendars... too funny! Max loves walking around and seeing all the other dogs. He wants every single person to notice and pet him, which he normal gets them to do - I mean, he's just that cute :)

A few more friends met me at the market, and we had fun wandering around and trying samples of everything. The cheese booth is one of my favorites, I love cheese! I stocked up on lots of fresh food. The prize of the week goes to the homemade lemon pepper fettuccine and fresh pesto. DELICIOUS! I also found beautiful purple orchids, two stems for $5! We then ate lunch outside and by the time I got home weighted down with bags, I'd been out at the market for 5 hours. Such a great way to spend a Saturday!

Monday I had off work for MLK day, and it was the most beautiful of the 3 days off. Max and I headed down to Mission Bay for a long walk. Tons of people were out riding bikes, jogging, having picnics, sunbathing, playing tag football... it really did feel like a summer day! There was not a cloud in the extremely blue sky!



So, it's been a struggle to see the palm trees swaying and the sunshine from my office window all week, and not want to head to the beach! As I'm writing this a hummingbird just landed right outside my window. Could I live in a more perfect place, I don't think so :) 

My New Year To-Do list

Wow, it's 2011. It's hard to believe that another decade has passed us by. I remember the hype over New Years 2000 when I was sixteen and it doesn't seem like it has really been 11 years. Do you ever find yourself wishing that time would just slow down for awhile?!? Why was it that when we were sixteen it moved so slowly and it felt like we'd never be out on our own and a "grown up." Not to say that I'd want to be sixteen again (no thank you) but being all grown up is hard! Sometimes I long for the days when my biggest worries were passing a test, who I was going to the dance with, and finding the perfect dress. Then again, I still worry about finding the perfect dress, but now it's for all my friends' weddings :) 

This year instead of resolutions that I will most likely break by the middle of January, I decided to make a to-do list for the year. I did this at the beginning of 2009, and found the list today. So, let's see how I did on fulfilling my goals in the past 2 years...

1) Find a job that I love - Check! I love the Playhouse! Only took me a year and half from writing that, but patience paid off!

2) Start writing again - I wrote theatre reviews in 2009/2010 for an online website. And I guess this new blog counts too :)

3) Find more time for playing violin, maybe a community orchestra - Ehhh, not so much. It's on my to-do list for this year too.

4) Get out more in Charlotte - I definitely accomplished this one. At New Years 2009 I had only been there 4 months. The following year and half was great, and I had so many fun adventures in Charlotte and met some really great people. I miss you Queen City!

5) Be healthier - Hmmm.... let's move on from this one. Let's just say that's an ongoing resolution ;)

6) Expand my cooking skills - When I do cook it's still the same few recipes I've perfected. So, I guess I failed on this one. What can say, cooking for one is tough. I prefer the whole take-out thing. Dinner tonight was take-out from the Italian place down the street. Can I just say how much I love the restaurants in Little Italy - ahhhmazing!

7) Not be afraid to take risks - Well, I think I definitely accomplished this one career wise in the past 2 years. I took a risk in walking into the Charlotte Symphony in early 2009 and handing them my resume. It led to a great year and a half with them where I learned a lot. And then I took a risk in moving across country for my job now.

8) Get involved in my favorite charities again, Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity - I did volunteer at the Habitat Restore offices (like a Goodwill) in Charlotte for awhile in 2009. But I'd like to get involved in both organizations out here in San Diego. 

So - here's my 2011 to-do list... yes they do look like resolutions, but if I call it a to-do list instead, maybe I will actually follow through with them :)

1) Get out and network! Not just because it's important to my job in fundraising, but because it's a great way to expand my social circle in my new city of San Diego. I started by joining Association of Fundraising Professionals today, and registering for an event at the end of the month for the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of San Diego.

2) Take more time out for the things I love to do. I keep saying, "I should get back into this or that," but months keep passing by and those once loved past times get more and more neglected. Tonight I dusted off my violin, changed the strings to new ones, and played. It felt good. So, this year I will start playing the violin more, even it's just for myself. Music is such a big part of me, and I never want to get so caught up in the day-to-day that I don't take the time for it.

3) Try new things. I have a long list of things I've always wanted to try. Well, I think it's about time I started checking things off that list. Some include learning to surf and taking ballroom dancing classes. So, if you know of good places to take those, let me know!

4) Read more. I've loved books even before I could read them. My Mom told me that when I was really little, I would memorize the words to the stories she read me and recite them back with the book in hand pretending to read. I had her fooled when I was three or four and she thought she had a genius daughter.

The smell of an old book is like an old friend. I could spend hours in Barnes and Noble perusing the aisles. Even more I love used books stores. It's like those old books have stories to tell besides what's written in them. Like where they've been and the hands they passed through. I've filled my bookshelves with countless books I keep wanting to read (and moved them all across country), but they stare down at me unread. So, this year I will take the time to read all those neglected books that looked so intriguing to me in the book store.

Well, there it is. A list that I really hope to accomplish. I have a feeling 2011 is going to be a great year :) I look forward to what lies ahead.