What a View

I'm not pregnant, but my dear, witty, beautiful friend JJ is. She took this picture and I found it to be hilarious. Rest assured she looks fabulous and fit, but this picture is oh so hilarious. I can't imagine what that must be like!

Home

Being home is an interesting thought to me right now. In the past few months I have had many homes. I've said goodbye over and over again, packed and unpacked more than I'd like to remember, and driven over 4,000 miles. I've moved out of an apartment after 3 years, lived on a boat, stayed in hotels, friends places in LA, Nashville, Atlanta, and Mississippi, and lived in a crazily decorated mountain home for two weeks in Rome, GA. And now I find myself at my parents' condo for three months, teetering on the edge of a move halfway across the world where I'll make a new home for a year and half. I've been living at warp speed, from one moment to the next, and it amazes me to take a glance backward and see how the Lord has carefully picked me up and put me down into each hour, minute, and second.

Historically I have not done well with goodbyes, which made huge transitions like moving to a new apt/city/state, starting a new school or job, or enduring a break in any relationship harder for me than most. I would retreat emotionally, fearful that in letting go of something/place/one, I would lose all ground and a part of myself. The irony is that I am really great at adapting to new people and places-making friends and a new home is easy-it's the letting go that sent fear to my soul. Thankfully, the Lord is so gracious, and has spent the better part of my twenties slowly weaving new yarn of his strength into me to cover up those fearful, self-reliant parts. One thing I love about God's work in our lives is that nothing is one dimensional, meaning I don't think for a second that He was only preparing me for a move to Kenya, nor do I think I'm a piece fully restored. But I do know He has gone ahead, and that the person hopping around from place to place this year is amply more prepared and suited for having a conceptual home than the Lexi of my past. Although the stress of moving is never enjoyable, I can say I've had fun these past months, and seen all the packing, planning, traveling as a joy and an adventure that I am lucky to take. I've learned to carry my home with me. I guess I'm like a happy little turtle (I don't want to be a snail), with my history and story etched on to my shell, along with God's promise that He knows where I've been, where I'm going, who I am and that I never go alone.  I know and hope I won't arrive unchanged, wherever I am going.

Roadtrip!

Hi Blogworld! I've been MIA for months as I was winding up my life in LA, and hauling myself and possessions across the US and halfway back. The last month in LA was chaotic to say the least, but the end of September came quickly and I was feted in a delightful (though extremely hot) goodbye party in the Malibu hills.


The Besties and Fabulous Party Hostesses! (Sign by Whit, Baby by JJ)


I was SO happy my parents could come to my party! Feel free to see the rest of the pics on facebook.

After a whirlwind goodbye, my mom and I were off on our LA to Dallas road trip, or MAMA: WOW. That's right, I name road trips. Me And Mom's Adventure: Women On Wheels. We saw the Grand Canyon, ate at yummy restaurants, listened to a fabulous book, and even saw a double rainbow!!! SO vivid.






I found this man's form mid-fall to be hilarious

3 days later we made it to Dallas and were greeted by some of my favorite people




My stay in Dallas was short-lived, 2 days later the road trip continued: commence, WALL-E! Whitney And Lexi's Lifelong Expedition! Oh the laughter. I seriously felt like I would have 6-pack abs after my weekend in Nashville with Whit and her boyfriend Big Ben who was armed with an official list of activities to keep us entertained and well fed (awwwwww). We ate delicious popsicles at Las Paletas and were nearly killed my a creepy woodsman with an axe at a Harvest Maze (or something like that) among other things. I also decided over the weekend that Nashville is at the top of my list of cities I could live in eventually. Since the list pretty much says LA, London, and NYC I thought this was a breakthrough...





And that brings us to my 3 weeks in Atlanta! More to come. It's good to be back!
xo

Farmer's Choice

I am so in love with my new produce grocer--Farmer's Choice. Yesterday I purchased everything you see above: strawberries, blackberries, green, yellow and Serrano peppers, mixed greens, green beans, broccoli, bananas, vine and cherry tomatoes, mint, lemons, avocados and a lime for...$21.83. Seriously. I don't know if you can tell by this picture, but that bin of blackberries is huge, and it was $2.99--I don't even want to imagine how much that would cost at Whole Foods, or even Ralphs! And this is not just any produce--it's fresh, local and mostly organic. So not only are you saving money, but you're supporting CA farmers and eating really healthy. Best of all, it's in the same parking lot as Trader Joe's--whose produce leaves something to be desired, so you can make both stops in one trip. I can't wait to eat all my yummy produce!

Farmers Choice. 3250 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. 310.450.0707. Mon – Sat: 8 am – 8 pm. Sun: 9 am – 7 pm.

Cinderella...and Me!

Being an aunt is the best job I've had to date. Not only do you get to love some little ones as if they are your own minus the great responsibility, but you get to be loved back and in a way that you haven't been loved before. In two (long) weeks I'll get to see my two favorite little people, right here in Los Angeles! Nothing gets to my heart like those two Z's. My sister has been prepping Zoey for Disneyland, and she is OH so excited about seeing Cinderella, her castle, and the teacup ride. So excited in fact that she has made a paper chain to count down the days. My sister and I used to make paper countdown chains for Christmas, vacations, birthdays...and now I am at the end of a little dreamer's countdown! Here is an excerpt from my sister's email yesterday:

"she is SO SO SO SO SO excited about the whole trip, she prayed tonight for one thing only: 'Thank you for seeing LaLa (that's me!) and the castle when I get to the top' (of her countdown chain)"

Not lost on me: I ranked before the castle. Oh to love, and to be loved in return!

Please Pray for Daisy Love

I'd love it if you took a moment today and tomorrow to pray for this precious little girl.

Jesus is able.

I heart NYC

Today a very dear friend of mine is moving back to NYC after many years on the West coast. It wasn't very long ago that I considered a move to the Big Apple myself, but alas, that is not to be (for the time being). For now I see the city through the amazing, whimsical artwork of Caitlin McGauley. I follow her blog where she writes about her day to day life in NYC--the big difference between her blog and the many others I read about life in the city? She depicts her happenings in beautiful watercolors! For example, when she bought a chair, she posted this picture of it.



When she saw Grace Coddington, she posted this picture. (Go see The September Issue right now!)



If only I could depict my life happenings through cupcakes. Or paper dolls.

pictures used with permission, thank you Caitlin!

PS--I found Caitlin's blog on my friend Cannon's blog! Cannon-loving the Forever 21 posts!