These are a few of my favorite things...

Josh Ritter {boyish, charming and crazy talented} at the Commodore Ballroom.

Vietnamese Pho at our favorite local restaurant. We go so often, they know our order!

Dutch blitz on cozy weekends with my little brother.

Sunny Saturday mornings in bed that easily stretch into Saturday afternoons, still in bed.

Fresh air. And days spent in the garden.

The most tasty sushi. Sister dates. And camera phone battles.

Rambling walks on gorgeous, blustery days. 

Lingering spring afternoons on patios around Vancouver. Delicious beer. And the best company. :)

These girls.

Whole tubs of Ben & Jerry's best.
Going for a scooter along the Sea Wall with the babes that I nanny.
And very milky tea.


That's all for now. :)

Finally!!!!!

I just had to share this extra bit of goodness today!

I LOVE this movie, and the follow up. 

So I am absolutely thrilled that they have now filmed a third!!!!!

If you haven't had the opportunity to watch the first two, please do.

because, Before Midnight is coming out May 24th!

Happy Friday!!!!!

{Images found here}

"Let someone love you just the way you are - as flawed as you might be,

as unattractive as you sometimes feel, and as unaccomplished as you think you are.

To believe that you must hide all the parts of you that are broken, out of fear that

someone else is incapable of loving what is less than perfect, is to believe that sunlight

is incapable of entering a broken window and illuminating a dark room."

Mark Hack

{Image found here, quote found here} 

A breath of fresh air

When one stumbles upon words that nourish the soul,
and shed light on truth,
one must pass it on...

Last November, I was sitting at home watching Brené Brown's TED Talks, 
contentedly unaware as to what I would hear or how I would be challenged.

I knew of her...

{After all, her TED Talks gained an audience of over 6 million views}

I just didn't know that her words would settle on me with such poignancy.

"The original definition of courage, when it first came into the English language -- it's from
the Latin word cor, meaning heart -- and the original definition was to tell the story of who you
are with your whole heart."

Boom.
Isn't that beautiful?

*and just a little bit scary*

What would our world look like, if we all had that kind of courage?

It's something I've been dwelling on since.

Turns out,
it's a choice to be authentic in each moment of every day.
And if we we dare to be flawed, transparent, and raw,
we can connect in a way that goes beyond the facades we've built that divide us.

As I'm learning,
It's easier said than done.

Vulnerability sounds like truth and feels like courage. Truth and courage aren’t always comfortable, but they’re never weakness. 

Brené Brown

Vulnerability, courage, shame, and worthiness, are all topics she's delved deep into.
Revealing what we all feel, yet rarely give voice to.

If you haven't had the chance to listen to her TED Talks, I urge you to.
You most definitely will not be disappointed.

Happy hump day!!!


{Images}
1
2
3

(Quotes found here and here}

Blooms, blooms everywhere

Hope you all had a wonderful Easter weekend!

Our weekend was especially busy, as it was also Christina's birthday weekend, but more on our weekend adventures later this week.

Neighbourhoods all over Vancouver are covered in cotton candy coloured blooms and it is a crazy beautiful time of year to be living here. 

I was walking to work this morning, and couldn't help but stop to quickly take some photos. So pretty. :)

The only thing I love more is when the blooms start to fall apart in the wind, and it looks as if petals are falling right out of the sky.

 

 After our Easter Egg hunt on Sunday, Christina and I took some silly and sweet photos.

We're blooming too. :)

Here's to a new week, lovelies!

xoxo

For my lovely Christina on her almost 30th birthday

Good golly, the cuteness of you!  Even now, those beautiful cheeks reveal your youth and your spirit, and I'm left forever grumbling when people think that I'm the elder sister. :)

But deep down, I don't mind. Because I think that you're radiant too.

Last summer, when we were having the best summer of our lives {which was preceeded by a fairly miserable winter and spring} I had written down some thoughts concerning you.

"I'm happy, so happy and content. The most I've been in a long time.

And sometimes it astonishes me; when I think back on winter's wearying months and instantly I can recall the heaviness in my soul that at one time overwhelmed. 

Now, in the same thought I can see and feel the restoration and healing that has occurred and I am surprised by the peace that floods my soul.

Despite my distance from God this last while, I know he has been near.

It is through Christina's care and affection that I have felt, almost constantly, the beams of God's love. When I have hesitated or floundered, she has provided hope and reassurance, merriment and distraction, ice cream and films, sushi and sauvignon blanc.

And together we push forward, though mostly if feels like a creep, into a new time and place, into new experiences, all the while knowing ourselves deeper and with greater certainty, and perhaps with greater love."

You've been like a mamma to me, loving me up and down and all around.

And I don't know how I got so lucky.

 All that to say, I love you. With the kind of love that fills up oceans and galaxies and universes and infinities.

You will always be my wild-grinned girl.

Happy 29th Birthday Christina!

 

Love, your Rachel

xoxo

That time of year

"I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees."

Pablo Neruda

My absolute favorite time of year is when the cherry trees bloom in all their glory.

When you stroll along the sidewalks, and pink petals fall upon you like a blessing.

It's a reminder of a new start, 

fresh and oh so beautiful.

Happy hump day lovelies!

{Quote found here, Images 1, 2, 3, 4}