Neither. I'm a bummed witch that I spider webbed my phone (worse than it already was!) getting out of the car this morning :(

#whitegirlproblems.

Loved this techy's dedication to "awkward" in his Sheldon Cooper costume (in an attempt to save money, I went as Rosie the Riveter). The Big Bang Theory is a favorite of mine!

Ps if ya need a last minute costume, I highly recommend Rosie--jean top and bottom, red lips, and bandana. Since I couldn't find a red one in stock anywhere (was everyone in SF a cowgirl this year?) I made do with a red napkin instead :)

I just found this photo of me and my sis after a day spent at Disney and now I miss her even more than I do on a normal day (which is a lot). If you know us at all, this is even funnier based on the fact she is turning away from me as I attempt to pull her in for a snuggle.

Christmas, you cannot come soon enough....

There is a phenomenon of less than desirable life shaping happening amongst my friends, family and acquaintances that I like to refer to as self mansifesabatoge.

I hear it all around me, including from my own mouth. I hear folks make, on a regular basis, general negative statements such as:

"I'm probably not getting that job, it's such a competitive market."

"He's not going to call me back. Men are such bullshit."

"It doesn't matter how much I work out, I'm still fat."

"I'll never make enough money to be happy. This rat race will be the death of me."

Ack, so terrible! I could break down the plethora of reasons why this kind of verbal self bashing is no bueno for your mojo (and could also make the case for trusting the process and letting the lessons of life unfold as they are meant to), but mostly I gotta pump the brakes to draw attention to the fact that these statements are actively chosen as perceived truth. Out of the zillions of thoughts we can choose to focus on, these are the ones we give power to? The heck. What gives?

For example: My most common thoughts this week?

I'm off. I twisted my knee in yoga yesterday, I've been exhausted no matter how much I sleep, I can't seem to balance my social calendar, I'm so physically off I'll probably injure myself more this weekend....

With all this negative balance/mojo talk, it's no wonder I tumbled down my apartment steps today (I kinda wish you were there to see it as I'm sure I looked hilarious).

Exhibit A:

Here's the thing---while I deeply believe in the power of positive thinking, I'm not sitting here saying I specifically manifested a fall down the stairs. That, truth be told, can most heavily be blamed on my super cute but slightly difficult to balance in clog heels. But I'm also not sitting here saying I don't think we have some degree of control over the...graceful?...way our days play out.

I believe that...as Deepak Chopra so simply states...what we perceive as real, becomes real.  I believe that what we spend our time mulling, stewing and swirling over will eventually become our daily reality. I believe this to the extent that we physically give strength to our thoughts and their ability to guide us towards our ultimate goals based on how much time we spend on them, how much emotion there is behind them, how much faith we have in their truth and of course, the degree of effort we then put into making them real.

Because I believe so deeply in the power of manifesting, the reverse of happy-thoughts-bringing-happy-things is also true. I repeat--what you perceive as real becomes real--even if that perception is negative. Thus, enter self manifesabatoge.

Now, my take on the whole power-of-positive-thinking theory does have a slight twist to it that differs from most works located in the self-help or metaphysical sections of book stores. I am firm believer in allowing yourself to lean into the discomfort; in sitting with your emotions, acknowledging their presence and letting them guide you to a place of release, acceptance or change. But I am an even bigger believer in eventually letting them go. In not allowing them to drag you down or suck the light out of your sparkle. And I, perhaps most importantly, believe that when shit just doesn't go the way we hoped we have the power of shifting our perspectives to help pull ourselves up and onward.

We have got to stop doing this to ourselves; we have got to stop sabotaging our potential for good in life from everything big like accomplishing dreams to everything small like successfully making it down a set of stairs. It's time to step up for our own highest good and continue feeding loving fuel to our shining potential. I'm begging you--pay attention to your thoughts and ask yourself regularly, "am I being kind to myself?"  If the answer is no, ya gotta give that thought the boot. It simply does not serve you.

This weekend I choose to acknowledge how grateful I am to practice yoga with an instructor I trust and respect. I affirm my booming social calendar is a blessed sign of the wonderful life I've created in California and can easily be adjusted to fit my needs at any moment. I accept control over my sleeping habits and have patience with/love for my body....

...And I retire my clog heels for awhile...ya know, until my stair-confidence builds back up again.

So, my radical readers, I wonder: what are you creating?

love and light,

Trish

A little love from my morning barista (with a side of "Muy Bonita")....happy Friday, ya'll :)

Re-reading Lovemarks, loaned to me by my favorite marketing guru, and feeling the creative juices building....

So here's the skinny: I hosted a networking event this past Saturday for work at a local bar/club and needed an outfit that was appropriate for both the networking and the club part of it. One of the many cool things about being a chica working in the tech-start up industry is the ability to have some fun with fashion--definitely lots of room to play with colors and accessories as there is nothing even close to a dress code in my field. Feel like wearing yoga pants to work? Namaste! Found a vintage lace skirt that looks amazing with your new heels? Rock it! Will any of the men in your office notice either way? Probably not! Regardless, it's nice to have such flexibility and creative wiggle room :)

Here's what I came up with:

It's hard to tell in the crappy iPhone pic, but those pants are a seriously awesome shade of cobalt blue. And they're stretchy! Perfect for upping the comfort level (and beer drinking...let's be serious).

Jenny has taught me to love the ol' pop-on-a-funky-necklace-to-spice-up-an-otherwise-un-special look trick. This necklace was a whopping $28 at her shop and made all the difference in my outfit. I can't even tell you how many compliments I got on the pants as well as the necklace from both men and women (read: a lot)! It made my night that much better.

And later in the evening dragging poor Laurel into my shenanigans (doesn't she look like a total bunny boss in that first pic?)....

In Gratitude,

Trish

Speak your truth. Authenticity is the sweet spot.

Equipped for this rainy week. Puddles-- watch out, I'm comin for ya.

On Saturday while I was working for Jenny in her fabulous boutique, I met the raddest 10 year old boy while his mom shopped and tried on clothes. He had big, unintentionally cool, hipster glasses and the sweetest disposition. I felt badly for the little dude so cutely (and awkwardly) waiting for his mom amongst groups of women towering over him in heels, so I struck up a bit of conversation that proved 2 things to me:

1. I am cool with being a huge dork.

and 2. There is hope for our youths, yet.

Me: Hey, whatcha got there?
Kid: Oh this is my wand. {extends wand to me}
Me: Whoa, you sure it's cool for me to hold it?
Kid: Yea! My dad and I made it this morning.
Me, holding wand: This is  a pretty sweet wand. You like Harry Potter?
Kid: Yes! I love Harry Potter!
Me: Me too! And you've read all the books?
Kid: I've read every.single.one.
Me: Me too. Which one was your favorite?
Kid: Hmmm. Well. Probably The Prisoner of Azkaban because that's when things start get very serious...
Me: No way! That's my favorite too. And great play on the word "serious"...Sirius Black was one of my favorite characters.
Kid: ME TOO! And thank you. {beaming}
Me: So, which house do you think you'd be put in?
Kid: Hmmm...based on my strongest qualities....I'd say Gryffindor.
Me: Dude, me too. Best house, hands down.
Kid: My brother read the books, too.
Me: And which house would he be in?
Kid: Hmm...based on his strongest qualities...I'd say Slytherin.
Me: Yikes!
Kid: I know. Just this morning he turned my Legos upside down and dumped everything out!
Me: Ugh, total Slytherin move.
Kid: Total. He can be a sneaky little trickster. But he's not really "bad"...
Me: Well maybe he's less like a Slytherin, and more like Fred and George Weasley? Good kids, but love to play pranks and make mischief?
Kid: Yea! That's it. He could be Fred or George, so he can be in Gryffindor with us. I've also read {insert list of HP related books I can't remember}.
Me: I'll have to check those out. My sister gave me a Harry Potter cookbook with recipes like butter beer in it.
Kid: Awe man, that is so cool.
Me: I know, she's pretty great.
Kid: I'm turning 11 in January, which would be my acceptance year into Hogwarts.
Me: Dang, you're lucky. I seriously would kill to go to Hogwart's. How cool would that be? But I guess I'm a little past my time, huh? No acceptance letters via Owl will be coming my way.
Kid, chuckling: Well even if you were the right age, we are missing one key factor here....
Me, embarrassed that a 10 year old was about to remind me that HP is not, in fact, "real": Oh, haha, you mean the whole not having magic part, right?
Kid, appalled: Huh? No! We're just not British!!
Me, super relieved: Oh! Right! Totally right.
Kid: What do you think your patronus would be?
Me: Awesome question. Let me think. {pause} Because I went to a college with a big cat mascot, that would probably be it--a cougar or a puma of some kind. How about you?
Kid, sighing: My family and I took a test online and mine was a swan.
Me: Swans can be pretty fierce, ya know.
Kid, perking up: Yea that's true....
{shuffle of Mom getting rung up, more adult/child conversation}
Me: Well, it was so great meeting you.
Kid, big smile: You too! *flicks wand*

_______________________________________

Dear Amazing Future Kids,

I beg you, from the bottom of my heart--do not rush your childhood.

Imagine, play, explore every day. Challenge the adults in your life (myself included) to remember the importance of dreaming; remind them of how to be like a kid who sees the world from a place of light and possibility.

Cherish the days filled with time for crafting wands, reading for pleasure, going with the flow, being silly and finding uncomplicated joy in simple pleasures. Get excited over the things you love, regardless of whether or not they excite anyone else. Let your imagination guide you in grand adventures.

Don't worry about the things that come with age; the perceived benefits or disadvantages. Don't hurry to be older. If you're lucky, that will happen without any effort from you. Instead, be invested in exactly where you are at each stage; cherish it and give thanks.

Let it all unfold as it should. Do not rush to grow up or pine for later years. Never, ever wish your life away in this manor.

And Future Amazing Kids?

Always believe in magic.

Mama loves you,

Trish