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  • Tag: moving

    • life update

      Posted at 8:16 am by jasminedesirees, on January 24, 2018

      Good vibes only

      This has been a pretty busy few months, and I finally have some free time now so I thought I would do a post about what’s been going on lately.

      Last month I graduated with my Master’s degree, said goodbye to Arizona, and moved down to Orange County. Before I’d even unpacked, we were off to the Bay Area for Christmas, and then I flew to Mazatlan on Boxing Day to spend time with my family there.

      I got back a few days ago, and am finally all moved in, so I’m officially a resident of California again, but this time the Southern half. D has been here since September, he moved down here for work, so we’ve been living in different states for 4 months (really more like 6 since I was gone so much for News21) so it’s really nice to be back in the same zip code.

      It was actually kind of fun being on my own for a bit, I’ve never lived alone before. I had a cute little studio in Downtown Phoenix for a few months, I could walk and bike everywhere. I only had vegetables in my fridge (I’m vegetarian, he isn’t), we would FaceTime every night and I drove down to SoCal every couple of weeks to visit so it wasn’t terrible. We were both so busy at the time that we would just be doing homework in the same room anyway (he was finishing his Bachelor’s degree as well as starting training for his new job) so we have a long list of fun Southern California things we want to do now that everything is a little calmer and we’re living together again.

      I haven’t put up a post in so long, and I have a bunch of posts from the last 9 months that are basically done but I’ve never shared, so I’ve been thinking over the last few weeks about why that is, and whether or not I even want to continue to post here.

      What I’ve realised is that I initially started this blog (6 years ago!) when we moved to the Bay Area from Hawaii, and I didn’t know anyone and I didn’t know anything about where we were, so it was a fun hobby for me, I finally had somewhere to put all the millions of pictures I take, and it gave me a reason to explore places I maybe wouldn’t have otherwise.

      And now that I am back in the same position again, I’m glad I still have this space because I really do enjoy it.

      It’s only when I start thinking about whether or not I should be trying to get more followers (or actually promote my posts anywhere at all) or about the content (Is it interesting? Does it matter if it is since I don’t really care if anyone else sees it? Should it be more journalistic? Should I be writing about more serious issues?) that it isn’t fun and I start to avoid it.

      So I’m just going to try not to overthink it, and just let it be what it is, a fun hobby and a place for me to share whatever and whenever I feel like it.

      Posted in California, life, thoughts, USA | 0 Comments | Tagged blogging, life, moving, southern california, update
    • new house

      Posted at 8:50 am by jasminedesirees, on December 15, 2015

      arizona

      We bought a house! I’m not sure why we thought buying a house the week before Christmas when we aren’t even going to be home was a great plan, but here we are.

      We got the keys last weekend (I was still in San Francisco) and started demoing right away.

      Our goal is to have all of the flooring ripped out, the carpet replaced and the entire upstairs painted by Thursday because we have to move out of our rental and have it cleaned by Friday so we can leave for San Francisco on Friday night.

      So my days recently look like this:

      1. Wake Up
      2. Work out. Only 10 days til the beach!
      3. Pack things, then realize I packed all the bowls and can’t eat breakfast
      4. Work all day
      5. Make something for supper, then head over to the new place
      6. Paint/do things for 3 hours
      7. Go home, shower, watch Homeland, go to bed

      Which is really funny because previously after working all day I thought going to the library, which is like 3 blocks from my house, was too arduous a task to even consider.

      I guess that’s why they say if you need something done, ask a busy person?

      I’m really excited about the new place, the best part by far is the front porch, pictured above.

      I plan on spending 98% of my time out there reading and drinking tea, and hoping I don’t get hit in the head by a golf ball.

      Posted in Arizona, life, other things, USA | 1 Comment | Tagged Arizona, DIY, moving, renovation
    • moving day

      Posted at 8:24 am by jasminedesirees, on December 22, 2014

      As I already mentioned in this post, we are moving to Arizona! Today actually, errrr.

      D will be finishing his degree at ASU, and is starting in January, so he flew out last week and found us a place to live near the university. Also, it has a pool, which is amazing. I was so spoiled to be able to go swimming almost every day when we were in Indonesia and I loved it, plus I’m starting to train for the Honolulu Triathlon again, so it’ll be super handy.

      I’m applying for jobs in Phoenix, and I’m also applying to ASU for the fall to finish my Master’s degree. I started in Hawaii a few years ago, and was accepted to SFSU to continue when we got to California, but apparently San Francisco is a pretty crowded city and it can take a really long time to get to the other side, even if Google maps says it’s only 5 miles. Who knew? (Anyone who has ever spent 10 minute here, probably).

      So I’m pretty excited for that, but mostly I’m excited to move to a new city and have a whole new place to explore. Arizona is so beautiful and sunny, and there are so many outdoor activities and hikes within driving distance, so that’s what I’m most looking forward to, especially the Grand Canyon, the Kartchner Caverns and the Supersition Mountains.

      I’m also excited to be away from the crazy traffic of the Bay. I love San Francisco, and will definitely be coming back to visit often, but working in the city and living in the East Bay means spending a lot of hours commuting, and I can absolutely think of better ways to spend my time.

      So now I just need to find some friends in Phoenix (if you know anyone who is looking). So far my plan has been to creep around for the first few weeks wearing only my Canada shirt/ other GWN paraphernalia, I always meet other expats that way, without fail, whether I’m in a grocery store in the tiniest town in California or riding a mid-island bus to Wahiawa.

      canada

      Posted in Arizona, USA | 1 Comment | Tagged Arizona, ASU, Canada, grand canyon, moving, Phoenix
    • empty nest

      Posted at 9:06 pm by jasminedesirees, on May 19, 2014

      image

      Today while I was at work the movers came and packed up our whole lives in to way too many boxes.

      This is what I came home to.

      I actually think we need to keep moving every few years, just to make sure we keep weeding things out and don’t get overrun by possessions.

      I’m trying to go as minimal as possible on our trip, I’m only bringing a backpack so it’ll just be the bare essentials.

      And my hair straightener, obviously.

      Posted in life, travel | 0 Comments | Tagged Australia, moving, possessions, travel
    • oz

      Posted at 8:22 pm by jasminedesirees, on May 15, 2014

      image

      Things have been a little crazy around here lately, because we’ve been quietly planning a big change.

      But everything is basically official so it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.

      We’re moving! To Australia! I am so excited, most of the time I’m too excited to sit still, because we’re doing some traveling on the way, and this trip has been my dream for as long as I can remember.

      But it’s also been a lot of work, and a part of me is sad to be going now, when I finally am starting to feel at home in California.

      So as excited as I am, and as much as I can’t wait to get going, for tonight I’m going to have a little cry in the corner and wish that choosing something didn’t always have to mean not choosing something else.

      Posted in Australia, life, travel | 7 Comments | Tagged Australia, change, moving, travel
    • the boots that started it all

      Posted at 2:56 pm by jasminedesirees, on October 26, 2012

      It’s been over a year since I left my lovely little island to move to the Bay area (I still miss it every day!). I get restless very easily, and I love to travel and explore so when I found out we were moving, I was sad, but also very excited. California? Sure, that sounds like a good place to hang out for a bit.

      I don’t know if I really realized I was LEAVING Hawaii and not coming back. As we slowly got settled here, and that realization started to dawn on me, I was definitely sad, maybe even depressed.

      I couldn’t work yet because I didn’t have my work visa, I didn’t have any family or friends, no classes, no home, nothing. It was very hard for me to meet people, or to warm up to the people I did meet, because stripped of the things that I used to identify myself (country, home, school, friends, family, work) I did not feel like myself, and I didn’t want the people I met to know me the way I was then, but the way I was before.

      I remember thinking a lot of the time, “I bet you would really like me, if we ever met.” This went on for a lot longer than it should have, even once I started working, and doing things for myself, getting out and exploring, I still felt like a friendless little orphan a lot of the time.

      Then one day, I found The Boots.

      Now a pair of boots, while I’m sure they can be stylish, comfy, even sensible if you get the kind that have steel toes, or keep your feet dry, but they don’t have actual magical powers. These ones didn’t either, but they did have something else. They were chunky black motorcycle boots, boots that I’d wanted for years, probably since the first time I saw Daria on MTV but I never bought them for myself because I didn’t think I was someone who could pull them off.

      I’d even told my quite a bit more stylish younger sister how much I wanted these boots, and she made fun of them, and I promptly realized she was right, and put them out of my head.  This has always been a recurring theme in my life, in all areas, but most easily noticeable when it comes to fashion.

      I’ve always loved fashion, and held a deep admiration for people who were able to wear anything they wanted and look stylish and effortless, but I have never personally felt that I was able to wear a lot of things, really for no other reason than I told myself I couldn’t.

      Fast forward to about a month after I had had my dreams of ever being Gemma Teller crushed mercilessly, and I was at the mall, in the Macy’s shoe department, when I saw the same boots I had fallen in love with online. They were black, Steve Madden and completely gorgeous. They were also on sale. And they had one pair left in my size. Now I wouldn’t say I am the most spiritual or intuitive person in the world, but I can take a hint.

      I bought them immediately, put them on as soon as I got home, and proceeded to fall in love, while pointedly ignoring the obvious looks of disdain being directed at my feet by That One Guy (also known as my lovely husband Derek). I thought I would feel weird wearing them out of the house, or have trouble finding any of my clothing that would go with it, but they seemed to fit right in with me and my life, my new best friends I could wear on my feet.

      What I realized then, was that whenever I am feeling orphaned or friendless (which I am not, I have the greatest friends in the world, they just happen to be scattered all over North America), I should try to appreciate the amazing opportunity I have to experiment with style, with hobbies, with eating, with fitness, with the people and things I spend time on.

      I have a completely clean slate to do anything I want to do. And while it sucks sometimes to be so far away from the people and things you love, I can take comfort in the fact that whether I leave the house in black motorcycle boots, a see-through white blouse, or ass-less chaps, nobody can judge me because nobody knows who I am.

      Following this epiphany, I’ve really started to get into this really neat place where I’ve started living, and trying to make the most of my time here. I bought black leather leggings, and I love them every time I wear them. I bought a cheetah print cardigan, a peblum shirt, a leather skirt, a mini sweater dress, a mini cheetah print sweaterdress, blood red lipstick.

      I ran my first half marathon without my mom (she usually does the pacing, I thought I was going to die), I volunteered with Habitat for Humanity,  I started blogging.I’ve taken an interest in eating healthier (except for chocolate, there will always be room for chocolate) and started experimenting with quinoa, kale and coconut oil.

      We took a road trip down the coast and stopped at every beach along the way to Carmel. I signed up for a writing class. We went to a free concert in Golden Gate Park, and watched the Giants with the NL championship surround by San Franciscans at a Haight Street bar.

      I guess the point is, there is so much in life to do and so much to explore, it’s better to focus on the things we can do, rather than the things we don’t have. And if you’re not sure who you are, or what you really want, there is no time like the present to find out.

      Posted in Canada, Hawaii, life, San Francisco, thoughts | 0 Comments | Tagged California, growing up, life, moving, San Francisco, self discovery
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