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1) Dear Ones: A Letter from Elizabeth Gilbert (via Facebook) This letter stuck with me this week and I thought others might find it striking. –Farrell

2) How Some Men Fake an 80-Hour Workweek, and Why It Matters (via NYTimes) The topic of hours per week worked came up in multiple conversations I had with friends yesterday. To ask first or apologize later, that is the question. -Lauren

3) Young Couple Aged with Make-Up (via Bored Panda) I have been talking about this video all week with people who have seen it. The common consensus is that it is emotional and sweet. Watch it. –Farrell

4) How to Stop Clenching or Grinding Your Teeth (via LifeHacker) has me embarrassingly practicing the ‘screaming stretch’ all around town! -Lauren

5) Michael Singer on Oprah (via Oprah) This author wrote the book that I am currently reading call The Untethered Soul. I like what he discusses in this video and have made a pact to myself to notice my thorns. –Farrell

6) The Best Summer Hats (via loveTaza) I want them all! -Lauren

Storms

May 20, 2015

Storm coming in off of Lake Erie

There aren’t any storms in Los Angeles. This is the first place I have ever lived where it doesn’t storm and one of my favorite things in the whole wide world is to watch a storm come in. The way the wind picks up slowly and the sunny sky starts to turn black. That feeling of excitement but fear because you just never know how powerful it is going to be. When I was little storms would fly in off of the lake on a summers day without any warning. You would race home to head into the basement in case of a tornado (which rarely happened so close to the lake). I was scared for sure, but I also loved the extreme change in the weather.

Living in Los Angeles, the weather is so pleasant. Everything is smooth and predictable and easy. Almost every day is sunny and for the most part I would never trade that feeling. But it just hit me that there is something missing without storms.

Sometimes you really just need to weather a storm.

Tuesday Doings

May 19, 2015

SPENDING more time at the beach even though it’s been chilly and windy here. It makes me so happy. The perfect reset button.

WORKING on staying in the moment and not closing my heart.

LOOKING forward to spending some time in Cleveland. I miss home.

FEELING excited for dinner with my dad tonight.

BONDING with the sweetest terrier, Wendy, in my favorite Brooklyn neighborhood, Clinton Hill, this week.

GEARING up for another weekend of The Disco Emporium at Artists & Fleas Williamsburg. I’ll be there Saturday and Sunday!

If You’re a Bird

By Lauren

May 19, 2015

every so often I revisit this Andrew Bird album. there is a lot of music I once loved but don’t like to listen to very often anymore because it pulls me too far into the past. I love this body of music by Bird so much I keep bringing it back; and now it is a part of so many times. including today. back in New York riding on the train.

I’m a Bird

Before the power goes out, find the house. There’s something there inside that will be useful to you in the dawn.

Don’t let yourself continue to sleep so long; repeat the lyrics to your favorite song. Prepare for flight (an obvious rhyme about casting light). Prepare for snow, you’re always cold. Where to go and how and why. How those birds flap freely in the sky! Untethered ends

Decorum serves order, simply sung. Don’t you know you’re not the only one? Whistling wands create the sun. Slow it down. The final plucks.

First voice heard. humming sweetly starting over | second city of light.

Spring will come, ray by ray. Bask in brightness, beat your drum. Summer clouds turn into storms. Bird songs dizzy winding down.

[Repost from Dec ’13}

Picturesque

May 18, 2015

Pictures

We hope everyone had a wonderful May weekend! Here are some pics from our weekends:

Farrell – Los Angeles, CA

Reading and drinking at the beach

Watching this handsome guy

Still feeling sick all weekend from whatever I picked up in Nicaragua

Lauren – New Orleans, LA

Bachelorette celebrations

Jazz on Frenchman Street

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Coast to Coast

May 15, 2015

Coast to Coast

L: Did you decide on a new book to read?

F: I haven’t yet but two recommendations that were given to me were Girl on a Train and Luckiest Girl Alive. Neither one is jumping out at me but I will certainly keep you posted.

L: Aside from missing me terribly, how is it having your apartment back to yourselves?

F: It has been nice and quiet but also a bit sparse. It feels completely empty. Teddy and Kelly dropped all of the Valley Cruise store on Monday and Oscar today so everything is filling up fast. We are happy to do it though. Have fun with them!

L: What was the best wine you tasted in Napa?

F: Great question! My favorite wine was the Chardonnay from Regusci Winery.

L: Are you doing anything fun this weekend?

F: So far there are no plans for this weekend. We are doing a fitness challenge at work, so I am thinking that I might surf and/or go on a hike. This will be my first weekend in a while where I have nothing to do and I am looking forward to it.

L: I’ve been feeling kind of stressed out about all the craziness that’s going on around the world, any words of advice?

F. A couple of people have mentioned this to me lately. I guess my best advice would be that you can’t live in fear that something bad will happen. That will just breed anxiety and you will stop enjoying yourself. I know you don’t like this idea, but I really don’t listen to or read the news. Sometimes I skim the headlines. I think there is a fine line between awareness and reliance on the news to tell you about “the world.” Make sure to meditate and not drink too much without eating. That will help with stress.

Pass It On

By Lauren

May 14, 2015

1) Monster Rally (via Singles Club) is an awesome feature on our brother, Teddy, and the music he makes. There is also a section written by our sister-in-law, Kelley, about their day to day live running Valley Cruise Press. If you’re in NYC, don’t miss the Monster Rally show in Brooklyn on Friday night. -Lauren

2) Why Sitting is Bad for You (via TedEd) We have tons of standing desks at work, but I just can concentrate when I stand and work. After watching this, I am going to pledge to stand more. –Farrell

3) 12hrs Goes to France (via 12hrs) Check out these gorgeous city guides for Marseille, Lyon and Avignon. They’re making me want to book a trip tout suite! -Lauren

4) No Labels, No Drama Right? (via New York Times) I liked reading this story about modern love. It’s a funny insight into our generation and the way we view love. –Farrell

5) Five Steps to Digital Hygiene (via Seth Godin) I’ve done something close to #1 by keeping my phone on silent at all times and really like the change (and quiet).

6) Five Powerful Rules for Women Entrepreneur to Live By (via Entrepreneur) I have a lot of female friends who are starting their own businesses and this article reminded me of them. –Farrell

Napa

May 13, 2015

Inspired & Inspiring, Pictures, Travel