Why Am I so Happy?

I keep asking myself this.  Every day, every single day I keep thinking "why am I so happy? When did this happen?"  I am driving through town running errands and I'm smiling from ear to ear.  I feel a little ridiculous.  I even feel silly telling anyone this, but I kind of feel like I need to shout it from the roof tops.  I am bursting with joy.  I can't exactly put my finger on it, but it seems to be coming from me.  No matter where I am or who I'm with I feel like I'm the luckiest woman in the world. 

I am scratching my head and digging through my life trying to unravel this mystery.  I do love where I live and I love that I finally feel like I have somewhere to call my own.  I do love my job and all the time it gives me and the independence it allows me.  I love my roommates and my friends.  I love my new kitty LunaBelle.  I love that spring is just around the corner.  I love that I'm going to be able to have a garden this year.  Yet it seems more than this.  I feel like I'm in love, you know that dizzy crazy falling feeling?  That giggly goofy grinning phase of falling in love?  I feel that way, but there is a big difference. My romantic life is the last thing on my list of priorities.  So that leads me to believe that I might just be falling love with my life and....... myself. 

Why do I feel like I'm not allowed to say that?  Is everyone going to think that I'm conceited or narcissistic?  Am I gloating?  I don't think so.  Even though everything in me wants to, I am not going to feel guilty for being happy.  Not this time.      

I've been Adopted!!!

I went with my roommate, Brooke to go buy a fish and left the store with the new love of my life.

I don't particularly like fish.  They seem so emotionless, but if we were going to get one I wanted to be involved in the picking process.  We went to several stores and ended up at PetSmart, where coincidentally I had been stalking a little grey cat for the last few days at the Haven Humane kiosk.  I have been longing for an animal love every since my last kitty love, Mercury, crossed the rainbow bridge nearly two years ago, but the timing just hasn't been right.  I truly believed when it was meant to be the right kitty would walk into my life.  I did have a few requirements.  She must be grey, she must be fluffy, and she must have a mind of her own (I don't handle clingy relationships well).  There she was tiny and grey and fluffy and completely ignoring me. Perfect!  I had found my girl. I took her home the night before the full moon. The perfect time to find my little LunaBelle!

Redding Bucket List

• Rock Climbing
• Hiking  Lassen
• Hiking Castle Crags
• Wine Tasting at local vineyard
• Visit Alpaca Farm
• Take a trip to Napa
• Visiting Turtle Bay
• Expand my Yoga Practice
• Start a Book Club
• Naked Ladies Clothing Exchange Parties
• Find an acupuncturist
• Spelunking
• Have a healthy producing garden
• Shakespeare Festival in Ashland
• Eat a meal at Ikea

That's my list so far, but it is definitely a work in progress.

Hometown Bucket List (Suggestions Welcome)

Funny, how so much can change and yet things basically look the same.  I took a little jaunt across the country and in less than a week I managed to change my mind about nearly everything.  I was ready to pack my bags and move to the cold.  In all honestly, I don't even think I knew what cold felt like.  Well, I learned quickly, and it didn't take long to make me realize I had taken California and all she stands for in my life for granted.  I need sunshine the way most people need food.

So I came home, back to this place I have spent most of my teenage and adult life trying to escape and yet again I got to see it with new eyes.  This is my home and I need to fully experience everything she has to offer before I pick up and leave.  So I think I will start working on a Hometown Bucket List!  The goal is to give me something to focus on and let me see a different side of good Ol' Redding.  I'm taking suggestions if anyone wants to tell me restaurants to try, trails to hike, places to go, etc.  Hopefully, I will have at least most of the list done by the end of the week.  I will post what I have finished by this weekend.  Thanks for your help in advance!

My Favorite Salad Dressing Ever!!!!!

While I was in Maui last fall, I spent an afternoon at the Ali'i Kula lavender Farm with my Mama and my sisters.  We had a lot of fun touring the place, the views were beautiful and we had a little photo shoot with some umbrellas we found on the grounds.

When it came time to visit the gift shop, well some of us went a little crazy.  Some of us, basically being me.  The lavender creams all smelled divine, the lavender chocolate and teas were heavenly, and the lavender art was gorgeous.  My addiction to lavender was fully evident to anyone within earshot.  Strangely, enough one of my favorite things there was salad dressing.  My mom poured it in a cup for me to drink, this seemed weird to me.  It was dressing I didn't want to drink it like tea.  I put my finger in it to try it and it was at that moment I fell in love.  It was sweet, it was tangy, it was lavendery (ya, that's a word....now).  Apparently, this moment was so special we documented it.   

After coming home, I was living out of suitcases and boxes and the last thing on my mind was making a salad.  I was a little obsessed with the question, "What am I doing with my life?"  Well, after a few trips, job interviews, and some major reevaluation I am getting settled in a new place with a new job and I have time to ponder the nature of meditation, inner peace, and salad dressing.

The last one mainly because I bought arugula and need to use it before it goes bad.  Anyway, last night I made this amazing salad of arugula, romaine lettuce, mushrooms, apples, and blue cheese crumbles.  Of course I topped it with the Lavender Herb Dressing.  It was amazing!  So good in fact I made it again for lunch today.  I'm not the only one who thinks its good either, I've been secretly running taste tests on my friends and family too and they all love it as well.  I thought I would share this with you just in case you have been in a salad dressing rut, it's okay it happens to all of us at some point.  If you can't make it to Maui for a salad dressing run, no worries you can get it online.  Just click on any of the links above.  Happy Eating!