Word.

slow to a stroll-
placid perception turns
mundane into sublime

A Christmas Story

In celebration of Christmas, TBS really got it right by playing A Christmas Story for 24 hours straight. Nothing says Christmas like the "soft glow of electric sex gleaming in the window." Ha ha ha!! That movie is hilarious!!

Seriously though, Christmas really is the best holiday because you get a chance to just pause and be with your family and friends. For most of us, we get a day all to ourselves. A day to enjoy each other and reflect and appreciate all that we have.

***

Lucy got up bright and early that morning to see what Santa left for her under the tree.





She loved her new gift!



Then we were off to hang out with the rest of the Garcia's. The nephews, Nathan and Noah, were out in full force.





I hope you had a joyous Christmas with the ones you love.



Merry Christmas.

Love,
Edward, Michelle and Lucy

The City that Never Sleeps

As I go through my pictures of my New York City trip from earlier this month, I can't help but marvel at this amazing city. Manhattan is such a cultural and artistic haven. I often wonder how they manage to fit all that beauty and creativity in 22 square miles.

I ♥ how at any hour, you can just walk out your door and have something do, or someone to meet. When we were there, my friends and I had dinner reservations at 11:15pm on a Monday night, and the restaurant was packed! We didn't leave until nearly 1am and patrons were still coming in. I ♥ it!!

New York City, you inspire me with your people, places and things.

































I ♥ NY

Goes together like pizza and cupcakes

After we crossed the beautiful Brooklyn Bridge, we headed over to Grimaldi's for a bite to eat. Grimaldi's is famous for their pizza baked in a coal-fired brick oven. This cooking process gives their pizza a unique smoky flavor and perfectly crispy crust. It's like no other pizza I've had before!



Anytime you make your way over to Grimaldi's, you better be prepared to wait in line. Pizza this good is no secret. We waited in line nearly an hour for our little slice of heaven.



The chefs work double time to meet the huge demand for their tasty pies. They use freshly sliced mozzarella, not the typical shredded stuff, and their mini pepperonis are so juicy and packed with flavor. Yum-o! I wish they delivered all the way to LA.



After Grimaldi's we took the subway back over to Manhattan for some dessert. This trip kinda became an unofficial cupcake tasting. We had cupcakes practically everyday and we made it our mission to try out nearly every bakery in NYC to determine "The Best Cupcake in NYC".

The first stop on this night was Babycakes. This vegan bakery has been featured on Martha Stewart and Oprah. They also specialized in gluten-free, sugar free and soy-free baked goods. I'm sure this place is a great option for all you allergy prone folks, but I sure do love my milk, eggs and sugar!!





Next stop, Sugar Sweet Sunshine. This bakery was mighty tasty. My personal fave was the "Sassy Red Velvet". It had red velvet cake with black cherry/chocolate icing. Very interesting and delicious!






The two days before, we had already visited another legendary NYC bakery, Magnolia. I tried a cupcake with chocolate cake and chocolate icing and, of course, the red velvet. My gripe about Magnolia's red velvet cupcake it that the icing isn't made with cream cheese. It's made with a simple vanilla butter cream. What gives? The cream cheese icing is the best part of red velvet cupcakes.



On our final night, my friends made a trip to Crumbs. I didn't go because there is actually a Crumbs a few miles away from my house in Agoura Hills and I've already tried their cupcakes. Fortunately though, my friend Tina brought one to share while we waited for our plane at the airport. Wow! It really was good. The cake part was just right. Not too dry and not too moist.

My personal verdict on the best cupcake in NYC was Sugar Sweet Sunshine. I liked the unique twist on the Sassy Red Velvet. Crumbs is a close second, only because I have one a few minutes from my house (and that doesn't make it uniquely NYC) and, even though their cakes are delicious, they are monstrous in size. Seriously, they are like cupcakes on steroids. I like to keep to the normal sized cupcakes. That way I don't feel so guilty when I stuff my face with these calorie laden goodies.

Now, I need a serious detox.

There's a Bridge to Brooklyn...

It was like magic. Like we were transforming into some dream sequence in a movie. This beautiful blue-orange light surrounded us as we were transported into a new world... Well, okay, we were just walking over to Brooklyn, but it was crazy beautiful.

My girlfriends and I just got back from six fantastic days in NYC. I fall more and more in love with that city each time I visit. My camera and I enjoyed every second of our trip.














...that leads to this killer pizza joint.

The Daffodils

With all the wet and chilly weather, Michelle away in NYC, and my birthday and Christmas coming, I can't help but dwell on the words of William Wordsworth...

I WANDER'D lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way,
They stretch'd in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Outdid the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed - and gazed - but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.

You Came in With a Breeze...

...on Sunday morning.

I always love it when I get to hang out with my old college roomies. We're all grown up now and live in different towns so we don't get to see each other very often. But when we do, it's like old times again! This time we all met up for brunch in Santa Monica and it was loads of fun indeed.












Brunch at World Cafe was delightful, especially the all you can drink mimosas. After brunch, the Garcia boys and I cruised up PCH and helped our selves to the beautiful afternoon light.











Ok. Enough fun for one Sunday. Now I have to work on my paper.
See ya.

Travel Light...

...Live Light

These past two mornings, as I trudged along in traffic on the 101 south, I noticed several flocks of birds flying in "V" formation. It was pretty neat because it seemed so peaceful. There I was stuck in the insanity that is Los Angeles traffic and a mere 100 feet above me was nature taking it's course. Nature is so simple and my life is so not. My mind slipped back to Elementary school and I could hear my teacher say, "Birds fly south for the winter." Birds are so smart. Even they know that vacations are good for you!!

Next week my friends and I are headed on vacation to New York City for some girl time. I'm really excited. It will be good to blow off a little steam after this hectic quarter in school. We leave next Thursday. In the mean time though, I have to tackle a huge paper and do a mountain of grading for this class I TA for. Boo!

To take a little escape from the end of the quarter rush, I did a little photo session with my ever beautiful sister-in-law, Emily. She is such a rockstar, mostly because she puts up with me constantly stalking her with my camera. Oh, and by-the-way, I got a new camera. It's a Canon 50D. I think it's pretty special.

















...Spread the Light. Be the Light.