Life's A Beach

I spent the day at the beach in Malibu yesterday.
Sandcastles, swimming, seashell collecting, and too much sun with my niece, sister, and husband.
Watching my 6 year old niece discover sand crabs for the first time reminded me of my sister and me growing up––we would collect the sea creatures and keep them in a plastic aquarium that my dad bought us from a pet store.
Looking back I can see how inhuman it was to bring those little crabs back to our house––we thought that the ocean water and seaweed we gathered in the tank would sustain their lives––of course, we were wrong.
Fortunately, my sister and I learned our lesson and taught Kelly (my niece) that it’s better to observe the lives of all animals in their natural habitat.
She watched the crabs burrow back into the sand and picked up her bucket and started building a sandcastle.
That’s the beauty of childhood, you can let go of something and move onto the next activity without much thought or emotion; just let go.
It was so wonderful to watch my sister and niece enjoy the ocean together; the healing energy of the waves and the invigorating rays from the sun lead to a family bonding moment.

Weekend Work?!

Sunshine and blue skies,

Perfect beach day excursion;

Trapped inside working!

#TheGlamorousLife

Beach Day! ...again.

I have plenty of work that needs to get done,
But a day in the sun sure sounds fun.
Life is short, and I believe in balance.
So I'm taking a beach day!
Don't judge me...

Random Day Off In the Middle of the Week!

The sun is out and skies are blue,
LA palm trees sway gently in the spring breeze,
Birds are chirping and Starbucks is calling my name...
This calls for an impromptu trip to the beach!

January and It Feels Like July!

When it's sunny in LA, get out and play!

The beach is always the perfect option,

Blue skies and 80 degrees in January?!

God I love the West Coast. 

Beach Day

Because I
Enjoy
A
Chill day off
Hanging with friends.

Zen Beach Day

Once in a while I have to allow myself to take a break from the self-inflicted nonstop hustle.

It's very easy in Los Angeles to slip through the cracks...

Or worse, stand by and watch as the life you were meant to have is realized by someone else, while you're out playing in the sun.

When I started out on my own, I spent every ounce of time focused on my career. I had fun, however, I never truly allowed myself to let go and enjoy the adventures that life has to offer. As I got a little older, and more years of professional experience under my belt, I was more comfortable with the idea that not every day had to be work, work, work.
Then, when my Gramps died, I decided to re-prioritize my life. I know that I can live a full life in the short amount of time we have. I know that balance is the key ingredient for a life well lived.
I believe there is a time for work and a time for play. I'm proud that I've been able to apply that idea for the past two years with amazing success.
Last night, after a beautiful day at the beach, I started to give into the fear, doubt and insecurity that tells us that we can't enjoy a day off. I started to wonder if I was doing enough for my career. I began to panic.
Instead of continuing down that path of dark thoughts, I picked up my iPhone and watched the 30 second video I shot with my friends at the beach early that day...
Instantly I was calm. I remembered I have a great life, that I cannot take for granted.

My Zen Beach Day: