Meet Olivia

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Jaclyn

Meet Olivia.

Olivia Valentine Champion Pink Moscato Oakland.

Olivia was by chance, but absolutely meant to be mine. There’s a pretty good story behind her adoption…

The night before Valentine’s Day (a little over a month ago), I couldn’t sleep at all. I had been debating getting an animal for a while, probably since before I moved in. Did I want a cat? They are easier, right? They use litter boxes, cuddle and sleep all day… Or, did I want a dog? A companion, walking, playing, everything, buddy? I have been going back and forth on getting a dog for months, mostly the back and forth part because even though I wanted one,  I knew/know how much responsibility and liability they come with. Walks, feedings, vet bills, travel, etc. Not to mention the whole peeing everywhere, barking, whining and chewing or destroying everything that I often associate with them, generally.

Well that Valentine’s Eve night, I just could.not. get the thought of a dog out of my mind. I just had recurring strong feeling that I needed to drive to Paws tomorrow (Valentine’s Day), and adopt a dog, name it Valentine….Well, I didn’t. A month passed. I continued wanting, mulling and talking about getting a dog. Then Saint Patrick’s Day eve, about a month later, I had another sleepless night, and after having given it a lot of thought, I decided I would go to Paws “just to see” who was there.

Who was there was Olivia. Now I knew because I am generally a level-headed person, I would go in with a level headed, responsible approach. If it wasn’t meant to be, it wouldn’t be meant to be. I didn’t have to leave with dog, I didn’t want to jump into anything. But Olivia…Olivia who was rescued and taken in on Valentine’s Day, and named Valentine. Olivia who was so sweet, shaking, friendly and full of licks and kisses and her ‘happy dance.’ Olivia was different than these ‘other’ dogs. On her chart she had a big fat “NOT A BARKER” written across the top. She was four (not a puppy, which I KNEW I didn’t want). She was perfect…except for her tiny little kennel cough..

So I didn’t leave with her that day. Even though I had kind of already become smitten with her, I wanted to make sure I really thought it would be a good idea for me and not some decision I made coming off of zero sleep.. So I put a hold on her, which they let me do so that I could take her home “after her kennel cough is cleared up, after we’ve finished the antibiotics; this way you won’t have to pay for her prescription and go home with a sick dog.” [kennel cough btw is a highly contagious but very minor dog virus, similar to a human cold, often caught in kennels]

I came home that night after babysitting and couldn’t stop thinking about her. The next day was Sunday and I knew I had to have her. Monday morning I called the kennel and they told me I could come pick her up. Almost immediately after I left her there with that ‘hold’ I felt like I was leaving her,  my, dog. I felt guilty that whole weekend, like I was responsible for her being there and needed to go save her.

I love that she was taken in on Valentine’s Day and named Valentine. I really felt like it was, was meant to be…

Since bringing her home, I have fallen more in love with her every day. She is so sweet, so happy,  so friendly. She brings joy and happiness to the world around her….I can not walk down the street without people stopping to pet/talk/coo to her. Maybe I’m just a proud fur mom, but I really think she may be one of the best dogs out there (albeit cindyistness!)
Already we have taken many long walks around Seattle. She has discovered smoked salmon. She sleeps at my feet every night, I literally have to wake her up in the morning to take her out. She wears a little purple leopard print coat so she doesn’t shake when we go outside, and every new “adventure” is a chance to meet new, more friends for her. I haven’t considered myself a “dog person” but I am really, really loving having her. She only cries when I leave <3

Thanks for listening to our story <3

Jaclyn & Olivia

 

Posted in Friends, Musings, Thoughts, Uncategorized | 4 Comments

March Madness

Posted on March 6, 2012 by Jaclyn

I can’t believe it is March already. How and when did that happen? I also can’t believe I have lived in my apartment for two whole months now. Time really does fly.

*****

March brings a lot of changes in my life. I feel like so many times (well, in the last couple of years) big, life changes have occured; ones that I didn’t necessarily want or see coming, hut more of opportunities that have somehow “fallen” into my lap, that I have jumped at. Some examples?

-working my HR job for over a year,

-living in last summer,

-getting a job at Whole Foods and at the same time, an office,

-the HLS and Fitbloggin conferences I’ve been able to attend,

and of course,

-PARIS

generally, just my ever changing evolving living, working and life !

 

I feel like since I have been “off” this quarter from school (Running Start and pre-college credits = too many credits, I only need x number left which is less that a whole spring quarter), I have been able to catch up with friends I haven’t seen much, take yoga classes and work part time, but I also have felt kind of bored… ready to get back in to the swing of things, i.e; the busy jaclyness of life.

So this month, March will bring a whole new level of dimension(S) to my life.. 

And so, here’s to hoping I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew:

On Friday, I started a new nanny job,

Next Monday I will start my new Event Planning Internship,

In two weeks I will start my very last quarter of college,

Including working for a previous professor,

I’m signed up to volunteer two auction fundraising events in the next few months,

Oh and I start YOGA TEACHER TRAINING at the end of the month,

aaaaand

I also just started working at my studio. As a “Karma Yogi”, we get free classes (no small thang!) in exchange for three hours of my Sunday afternoons spent cleaning the studios.

weeeeeeeeeh! Did i get it all?

So yes I will be busy. And I can’t wait. I’m looking forward to all of these things. On top of which, I need to figure out grad school applications! I have my eyes set on one in paticular, and really, really want this program….

But if life has taught me one thing so far, it’s that

sometimes opportunites present themselves when you least expect them. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Musings, Thoughts | 3 Comments

Wishful Thinking

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Jaclyn

Just for fun, but maybe also a little bit because I have a birthday coming up next week,

Here is my “What I am loving now” Birthday edition. {read; what I would love to be loving now, wishful thinking edition!}

 

A Lululemon gift card. I would love love love a Lululemon gift card. With all the hot yoga I’ve been doing, I need more clothes! I don’t have a laundry machine in my new apartment and my clothes/yoga can’t keep up…plus I have been wearing a lot of the same ones for the past two or three (?!) years. I would love to buy some new tanks, pants and maybe even another yoga mat towel (best investment ever)

Jewelry. This may have been produced for Valentine’s Day, but I couldn’t help but notice this email from Tiffany’s today, this beautiful infinity pendant necklace,

Last week I was in the store, to get a necklace cleaned… and I also couldn’t help but catch a glimpse  the bracelet love I used to have. It was a heart pendant link bracelet that I got for my sixteenth birthday from my parents and it was a sad, sad day when I got it ripped off my hand (stolen) walking downtown

A Blend Conference Ticket! The Blend conference, happening in May looks like so, so much fun. A weekend of healthy living bloggers (and friends!) in Boulder, CO?? Sign me up !

A Puppy. ‘nuf said….

Candles. Perfume. Etc. I have been obsessed with this perfume for-everrr and always love candles, “girly things”, etc. Because of this I think I am somewhat easy to shop for

To go see this movie. The Vow looks like a total romantic chick-flick, but I’m in. Anything with Channing Tatum – have been looking forward to seeing the trailer when I was in Paris, ha!

and, and and…. WORLD PEACE. heh.

and finding a new job <- yes, please. wrap that up and give it to me.

—-

This year may not be last years birthday celebration [big dinner out with friends, "21 run", dinner w/ my parents at my fav downtown restaurant the next night, VEGAS a few weekends later, where my sister surprised me!] but really, that’s okay. In all honesty, all I really need is; some sun on my birthday so I can get outside, a great yoga class and maybe some calls/letters from friends and family ( which have already started coming in )

 

Posted in Fun, Musings, Rants, Thoughts, Travel, Work, yoga | 1 Comment

What I am Looking Forward to in February

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Jaclyn

Seems like January just flew by. Crazy to think that a month (one twelfth) of the year is up! The other day I was thinking about things I am looking forward to in February – kind of a nice thing to do each month, I think. Set goals, look at things ahead and prioritize.. so here goes !

 

Continuing my January Yoga Challenge! The studio is holding a one or a two-month challenge. Since January ended and I was going pretty strong, I decided to roll over to this month, too!

Win in court…. Well, not looking forward to this, but my parking ticket needs to be taken care of…. so I hope that by appearing in court downtown next week, the judge will be lenient !

Have a fun dinner out. I’m going to a great local steakhouse/seafood restaurant next Friday night. We like to do our monthly or every couple of month dinners to catch up on each other’s lives and have a good meal – looking forward to this one, haven’t been there before!

Turn…..22 ! My Birthday is next Friday night – I cannot. believe. I am going to be 22. That feels so old to me….. I remember when my older sister hit that ‘milestone’ birthday…

Figure out classes (and enroll!) in my final quarter of college. This will definitely be done sometime this month – I’m actually quite excited about my last quarter of college, looking forward to going back !

Possibly start a new job at the end of the month?! More details on that to come!

Enjoy the sunshine ! The weather has been soooo nice here, I want to make a point of actually getting out there and enjoying it a little bit each day – even the small walks around the block / to – from yoga or longer / farther away in the parking spot… those things really add up !

 

What are your February goals / plans / What are you looking forward to this month?!

 

Posted in Thoughts, yoga | 1 Comment

Snow Storm and a New Job!!

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Jaclyn

Seattle got a lot of snow this week. Snowiceandfreezingrain to be exact. A foot of snow is very unusual for Seattle winter. It made national news, and even was a “State of Emergency” for a while!

My apartment was sooooo cozy inside and it was just so cold and well…wet… outside, I didn’t really want to leave

View from my 6th floor, overlooking downtown and snow

Space needle to the left!

As you can see, very white! There was probably about a foot of snow in my area from about Tuesday until just last night. It’s gone now, the rain washed it away, but according to the news, about 100,000 p eople were left without power! Fortunately not one of them!

So I did have to leave the house, I have a new job that I started this week – nannying for a family. Although I had to work, the kids didn’t have school. They didn’t want to go outside and play in the snow (I wasn’t complaining!!) so what did we do? We made a snowman inside…

snowman cake

We made a “snowman cake” from a white box cake mix and then I frosted it and let them decorate it. kind of like a gingerbread house…. for winter. See that ‘carrot nose’? She put probably a fourth cup of frosting on there! I think they liked it, I came back the next day and they had eaten the head ! :)

The snow didn’t inconvenince me too much except Thursday when there was a full out icy rain storm, I called out of work for that one ! I spent the day though cleaning my apt and organizing my stuff – still things to unpack and put away ! When I left later for hot yoga, I realized just how icy and slushy it was out there!

On my way back I just barely missed some huge chunks of falling ice and snow and tree branches – it was pretty scary! – falling off a building. Luckily, I did miss them, but it could have been bad.

 

Have you had any snow storms this year? Do you like it or not? I like it for a little while, it was more peaceful and quiet in the city than usual, but not for too long, I get so stir crazy!!

XOXO,

Jac.

ps. I have a new addiction.  My friends introduced me to it a few weeks ago and I’m officially hooked. Funny that I hadn’t really been to Mac Dos (what the frenchies call it) in years, and now I fork over a dollar for my iced tea fix almost every day!

Mac Dos unsweet tea with stevia. Amazing.


 

 

Posted in Questions, Random, Snacks, Work, yoga | Leave a comment

Twenty Twelve.

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Jaclyn

Wow, has it really been this long since I last checked in? A lot has happened. Obviously Christmastime is a busy time of year… getting back into the swing of things, getting back (temporarily) to work, apartment hunting, and having fam in town has put blogging on the back burner a bit….

So a lot has gone down since ! Christmas, ringing in the new year, MOVING into a new apartment!!

I officially moved out of my parents house [where I had been just a few weeks since Paris, for the holidays] into an apartment pretty much downtown. I am so stoked and looking forward to living there for the next six months.

The view out one of the windows

I love the Inspiration boards I have seen for year’s goals, hopes, dreams, etc. I did one last year and definitely have a few things up my sleeve for this years’. Still working on it…. but better late than never?
Twenty twelve [ 2012 ] will be a good year for me, I am thinking. I have a lot of good ideas, and good things in store and things I really want to do/achieve. Graduating college, beginning *real life* and job hunting, hopefully more traveling, visiting family, continuing old friendships and hopefully starting new ones, and much, much more on the agenda…

Oh, also on my month’s schedule is another 30-day challenge. Remember last years?? I found a great new studio downtown and already love the vibe, teachers and classes.

Sorry it’s been solong since I’ve checked in, but things are all good here :D I’m happy to have found a new place to call home, and having a lot of fun getting settled in. Decorating/organizingstravaganza is taking place at the moment.

 

Year’s off to a good start, with more to come…… :)

Best thing to happen to you so far in 2012?

What was your New Years like?! 

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

“Back in the U-S, Back in the U-S, Back in the U-s-S- Aaaa,”

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Jaclyn

I have officially been back in the states for one week.

Last Saturday afternoon, I took a flight from Paris Charles de Gaulle to Philadelphia. Nine hours later Morgan was waiting for me at the airport. I spent a great few days with her – including a day trip up to NYC – and got back to Seattle Wednesday night. It has been unpackstravaganza over here since.. but today I finally put away my last suitcase and my room is looking a little more orderly.

In other news, I went apartment hunting yesterday, saw a friend and had dinner out with my Dad. Other things I have been loving about being home include doing laundry (with dryer sheets and good-smelling laundry detergent!), showering standing up (of course), sleeping in my own bed and using my own kitchen, yoga (!!) and returning to “real life.”

Of course I do miss Paris… In fact I still have a 3-5,000 word French composition due (tomorrow!) and another long paper due for a Comparative Literature class. Although our classes finished over a week ago, I guess the professors’ thought they would give their students time to reflect and get home before making these long papers due… Off to go do that.

It’s crazy how fast this year has flown by. It really is; so many things have happened this year, from Vancouver in January to Vegas for my birthday to the East coast for the family reunion, to Philadelphia for HLS and Baltimore for FitBloggin, and of course Paris, Berlin, Geneva and the South of France…. 2011 has really proven to be my year of travel, which is what I really wanted it to be. I have no idea where I will be or what I will be doing at this time next year.. which is kind of crazyscary, kind of crazycool.

But for now, I’m glad to be home, glad to be typing this from my bed and looking forward to what the next month will bring.

Posted in Family, Musings, Paris, Thoughts | 2 Comments

On My Way { Home }.

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Jaclyn

Sitting in the Charles de Galle Airport,

managed to fit all of my (three months worth) into my (checked) bags,

had a great (but probably too-late) night out with the group last night,

finished my last final,

and now I’m just so so SO ready to be in Philadelphia,

see Morgan,

shower standing up, get REAL Starbucks, charge my (US) cellphone, go to an Apple store (my computer is on its very last limb), hang out for a few days, to be out of the hellhole that I was living in for the past 90 days and my crazy and abusive host mother and just relax.

Can’t wait. 

Morgan: On my way! Flight is on time! :)

 

 

….except that in like forty eight hours I know I will absolutely completely miss Paris and (most) everything about it and want to come back…..

Posted in Musings, Paris, Travel | Leave a comment

Berlin in { 12 } Hours

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Jaclyn

Since I don’t make bad decisions often, since I have a Euro Rail pass burning a hole in my pocket with a quickly-approaching expiration date, since I had the next two days off of school, since I had nothing better to do, and since I really, really wanted to see it……

I decided: Berlin for twelve hours?  Pourquoi pas? Why not?

Sunday night, I hopped an overnight train from Paris L’Est to Berlin. I left at 7 pm and got in a 9 the next morning.

But what a beautiful morning it was in Berlin.

walking along the river

I had an amazing day overall. Funny that I spent twice as long getting there than I spent being there, but that’s besides the point..

Saw the German Parliment,

 

Walked along the old Berlin wall and through the famous gate,

..Happening upon a Christmas street fair,


Where for the first time I tried a German specialty “hot wine”,

Along with chocolates, and other German specialties. Lots of shopping, people watching, strolling, and Christmas present shopping was done!

Continued along my way,

Passed a riot (oh you know, that whole economy crisis thing….apparently it really is universal right now),Walked and walked and walked and shopped and shopped….

and then it was nighttime in Berlin, almost time for me to go home

One last stop through the street fair. No I didn’t go on any rides..but I was considering ice skating ;)

Berlin asked to borrow our Christmas tree this year, so I obliged… ;)
The day passed so quickly, but I am so glad I went. It’s nice to get out of Paris every now and then…. even if it does remind me how much I love this city. I really don’t think over European cities (that I have been to so far!) compare. Have you been to Berlin? Germany? The one regret I had was that I didn’t have the chance to go to the Anne Frank Museum (closed on Mondays’) or the time for Madame Tussauds. Next time!
A toute a l’heure!
XOXO
J
Posted in Berlin, Fun, Musings, Paris, Questions, Thoughts, Travel | 1 Comment

{Still} Thankful.

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Jaclyn

I hope when you toast to Thanksgiving tonight, you will think of me….

This Thanksgiving I will not be celebrating like most of my fellow Americans; with family, friends, a big Turkey dinner or four-day weekend and Black Friday on the horizon….

Instead I will be in Paris, with no signs of “Thanksgiving,” turkey or anything pilgrims and traditions…..but with piles of papers to write and Proust to read. No black Friday sales or sweet potatoes in my near future….

But, just like last year, I am still so thankful for so many things in my life.

 

I am grateful for My family, who especially lately have shown me so much support and love,

 

My amazing friends, both here and back home,



This incredible study abroad - while at times has been difficult and definitely pushed my limits – has been such a crazyawesome and truly is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,


Which has also made me especially thankful for the beautiful place I get to call home, and return to in a few short weeks,

I am thankful for my extended family and being able to see it grow,

 

For great food,

And great fun.

 

Most importantly, I am thankful that nine weeks ago today, MY world didn’t end. I am grateful for just another day to be here, on this Earth, surrounded by those I love.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011 (America)!!,

Love, Jac

What are your Thanksgiving plans this year?

PS: Go hug your loved ones today and tell them you are thankful to have them in your life, take a long walk on the beach for me, eat way too much sweet pototato casserole and then cancel it out with pumpkin pie, decide that you will just stay home tomorrow in lieu of batteling the crowds on black Friday, rub your dog’s stomach, take a nap instead of working out, watch a movie…………..but please don’t forget to go hug your family and friends today, and tell them that you love them.

 


Posted in Blogging, Dinner, Family, Musings, Paris, Questions, Random, Thoughts, Travel, Uncategorized | 3 Comments