(Image found here)

I never thought I would actually LIVE in California. Being from Cleveland, it is quite a move. I was pretty unsure of it before we left, however it has really been such a treat to be here. The best part about living in California are the options. There are so many places to see. There are parts of this state that you wouldn’t even believe are the same country. Whether it is driving the cliffs of Big Sur or beating the heat in the desert, I always feel lucky to be here.

The other day when I was driving up to Ojai after paddle boarding with my co-workers in Malibu, I couldn’t help but say out loud “I love my life.” It wasn’t a loud exclaimation, but a small, soft fact.

Thanks, California – for being so beautiful.

Last week, my friend Kate (who I first met when I reached out to her to see if she’d like to be a Homie of the Day here) and I hosted our second Taking It Offline event.  Taking It Offline is an ongoing event series for women in NYC who are pursuing (or considering) their personal, creative or professional passions online. It was a wonderful evening and so nice to talk with a number of creative and inspiring ladies doing a range of things in the online arena.  From arts businesses to fashion design to fitness blogging for the working professional to online marketing strategy and freelance writing (there was even another joint sister blogger!), these ladies were awesome.  I’m already looking forward to our next event.

If you or anyone you know would like to join us next time, sign up for our mailing list here.  Taking It Offline is also on Facebook and Twitter.

(image via here)

“To be mature you have to realize what you value most. It is extraordinary to discover that comparatively few people reach this level of maturity. They seem never to have paused to consider what has value for them. They spend great effort and sometimes make great sacrifices for values that, fundamentally, meet no real needs of their own. Perhaps they have imbibed the values of their particular profession or job, of their community or their neighbors, of their parents or family. Not to arrive at a clear understanding of one’s own values is a tragic waste. You have missed the whole point of what life is for.”

– Eleanor Roosevelt

I receive Gretchen Rubin’s daily Moment of Happiness email in my inbox each morning. Yesterday’s message was the above quote by Eleanor Roosevelt.  I spent the whole day thinking back on it and trying to consider whether I’m prioritizing the things I value most.  The idea also reminded me of something I heard before about personal finances, and how your spending habits serve as a reflection of what you’re prioritizing in your life, consciously or otherwise.