This is not really a secret but…

I want to move. I want to move far, far away. Specifically I want to Paris.

Seriously. Right now I am looking through pages and pages of Visa and travel requirements. They sure don’t make it easy. My sweet friend Sarah has been so helpful in answering questions. She’s a super star and has been living in Paris for about 5 years.

A few days ago I posted about a friend asking me if, once all the family obligations are over and done with, I could live anywhere in the world where would I want to be. I thought and thought… for days. I made lists, I racked my brain, I prayed… where is it that I want to be? Paris kept coming to mind and I kept passing it off as just a silly whim. It seemed so impractical and out of reach. And then I read on Facebook that my friend Shaylyn is joining the Peace Corp with her husband. She posted, “Life is too short not to up and do exactly what you’ve always dreamed.” I am not, in any way equating me scooting off to France for fun with what they are going to be doing by joining the Peace Corp… but there is no real reason for me not to do what I’ve dreamed of.

I know this probably seems insane. It does to me too. What would I do for a job? Where would I live? Would Harlow like France? I don’t speak more than a few words in French. You know little things.

But as I got thinking I realized I moved to England the first time after becoming obsessed with the Real World London. And I moved to Utah after visiting for a weekend and falling in love with the mountains. So maybe it’s not so crazy…

And just the thought of it makes me happier and more excited about the future than I’ve felt in awhile. I’ve already made a list of things I will take with me and working out a budget to save lots of money before I go. I’m giving myself a year to get ready and ready I will be!

So there you have it. My non-secret secret is out.

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Right now I’m sitting on the stoop outside my bedroom door looking over at my neighbor Bill’s house and the air is so sweet. The weather lately has been brutally hot but right now it’s perfect. It’s not cold and it’s not hot… just cool enough to take the bite out of the hot day we’ve had. I can also smell the mint growing around my door. It’s really perfect. I may close my eyes for just a minute.

I love the LA Farmers Market… and maybe I also love The Grove shopping center next to it.

Okay so maybe I just love Los Angeles.

And maybe I need to learn to hold the camera straight. I’ll just pretend I meant to have wonky photos.

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Um, hi. This what I saw when I walked into the Anthropologie. I promise I didn’t move any of the letters at all.

It was great… really sweet and funny. There were a lot of gay men there too… so it must be good. The guy next to me laughed with his mouth closed which was in itself, pretty entertaining. Go see it!

Next on my list is Paper Heart and Adam. I have a wee crush on Hugh Dancy.

This weekend my cousin and I saw The Proposal. It was cute and Sandra Bullock’s wardrobe was amazing. Does anyone else remember Ryan Reynolds from the Nickelodeon TV show Fifteen? (which apparently was also called Hillside) I was obsessed with it when I was oh twelve-ish. I can still sing the theme song… but I won’t. That and Roundhouse… wow.

Okay I’m getting sidetracked. We went to the 11:30 am show… A first for me. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a tinier theatre but we had the whole place to ourselves.

Afterwards we went up to the Lavender Farm that’s literally across from my house. I bought some cut lavender and lavender honey. When I got home I cut some of the mint growing outside and made some iced lavender mint water. It was really nice.

When I was on my mission this one family would always make us different “aguas” … they were sooo good. It’s basically just fresh fruit and water thrown in the blender… One of my favorites was cucumber/lemon water. It’s been brutally hot here lately so I will be trying lots of different variations. Maybe even plain water. I definitely should drink more of that!

This weekend was really, really busy in the best possible way. More of an update coming.

This has been a busy, busy week. My most wonderful cousin, Deana has been visiting with her kids (Max and Paisley). I think cousins are the best kind of relatives. This weekend I’m catching up with my friend Mackenzie before she heads off to Italy for the rest of the summer and going down to the LA Farmers Market – one of my favorite places.

I love this reusable fabric gift wrap.

Free People has some great accessories right now. I especially like this necklace and this one. Oh and this bag is great.

In case anyone was wondering, I still rully, rully want need this camera.

This Esty shop has really great leather sandals in lots of sizes.

Do you love letterpress? I do! And Simple Song makes the prettiest things.

I’ve been enjoying Jennifer Altman’s short stories and photography lately.

Have you seen Anthropologie’s newly designed website? It’s sooo pretty.

Maybe someday I will have my very own Post-it love story:

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This has been a busy, busy week. My most wonderful cousin, Deana has been visiting with her kids (Max and Paisley). I think cousins are the best kind of relatives. This weekend I’m catching up with my friend Mackenzie before she heads off to Italy for the rest of the summer and going down to the LA Farmers Market – one of my favorite places.

I love this reusable fabric gift wrap.

Free People has some great accessories right now. I especially like this necklace and this one. Oh and this bag is great.

In case anyone was wondering, I still rully, rully want need this camera.

This Esty shop has really great leather sandals in lots of sizes.

Do you love letterpress? I do! And Simple Song makes the prettiest things.

I’ve been enjoying Jennifer Altman’s short stories and photography lately.

Have you seen Anthropologie’s newly designed website? It’s sooo pretty.

Maybe someday I will have my very own Post-it love story:

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One should absorb the colour of life, but one should never remember its details. Details are always vulgar.
– Oscar Wilde

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