A Dose of Pretty | a dose of pretty

{Springtime roses in my favorite colors: a buttery, lemon yellow with blush pink tips.}

Everyday this week felt like Thursday, so it’s lovely to know it finally is Thursday. Each day felt like a lazy summer afternoon {albeit with cooler weather}. From having an afternoon meditation at the spa just to relax midweek to starting a new tradition of evening walks before dinner, this week was a nice mix of relaxing and productive. I’m excited to celebrate my son’s first star birthday, aka Nakshatra, {a Hindu tradition of celebrating your birthday based on where the moon was at the time of your birth} this weekend, as well as enjoy a deep tissue massage with hot stones on Saturday. And for those of you who celebrate, I wish you a very Happy Easter weekend as well! x

{Homemade sandwiches on freshly baked ciabatta that reminded me of my love for the classic meal.}

{Visiting the crystal grotto at my spa for an afternoon meditation. I love how each direction is connected with one of the elements.}

{A pretty view on our new tradition of evening walks.}

{The two palm stones I was drawn to during my aforementioned afternoon meditation: lapis + {a new to me crystal} hematoid quartz.}

{Lemon blossoms that make the air smell deliciously citrusy + produce the lemons I use for my daily afternoon lemonade now that the weather is getting warmer.}

x Paris

{Another stop at Belvedere Island for a stunning view of the city lights under starlight.}

When I began writing this post on Monday morning, I was going to say that this week was really lovely. After all, last Friday I played hooky {thanks to it being spring break} and went to San Francisco for the day. It’s one of those traditions I love: go for a day trip to a nearby city. When I lived in Southern California, I alternated between San Diego, Los Angeles {preferably Beverly Hills or Malibu/ Pacific Palisades}, Ventura, or Santa Barbara + Montecito. And last week, was exactly what I needed, especially with ending the day by not just walking across the Golden Gate bridge, but also under it {my first time walking under any bridge} + experiencing the incredible view of the city from Belvedere Island. And after a day of fun, I spent the weekend being productive {which always makes me happy}. I cooked, organized the house, and stayed ahead of my work schedule to make my week easier for me. And then Monday happened.

Monday was spent in the emergency room for a loved one, and while everything is okay now, it was a stressful and scary in the moment. It reminded me of exactly why spaces like this are so important. Instead of focusing on one of the hardest weeks ever, I was able to remember the good that happened this week as well: stunning views of the city, new experiences I never even knew I wanted in my life, signs of spring, and so much more.

While I have no plans to leave the house this Friday {or weekend ahead}, I am excited to continue to work ahead so that if something pops up {be it spending a day in the emergency room or spending the day getting to play hooky}, I can do it and focus just on that, and of course, to always find my dose of something pretty. I hope you have a great one as well. x

{I’ve walked across the Golden Gate before, but now I’ve also walked under the bridge.}

{Almost ripened strawberries at the nursery.}

{Signs of Spring: Petal pink peonies in full bloom.}

{One of my favorite traditions {especially on days when you can witness wildlife living their best lives and swimming alone}: Visit the sea lions whenever possible, such as on trips to San Francisco or La Jolla.}

{Apple blossoms.}

x Paris