The Right Yeses

I started this month with this goal: say no to all invitations. The last few months have been quite stressful and I was feeling as if I was being pulled in different directions. I longed for some time to recluse myself from everything and everyone. I just wanted to sleep all day, read all day and watch television all day, for several days, all by myself. But, I also needed to catch up on work, on writing and organizing my life. So, I was going to say no to everything and everyone.

But, only a few days into the month, a friend asked if I'd drive with her to Napa. She promised a weekend of unplanned events and time for me to write while she studied. It took me less than five minutes to say yes.

And last Friday, we went on our road trip.

We stopped by Cayucos for the best grilled fish tacos and brown butter cookies.

Although a part of me felt that I couldn't really afford to take a weekend off or a weekend away, there was a louder part of me that said I needed to. And the moment we got on the road, I knew that louder part of me was right.

I had forgotten how beautiful the drive is to Northern California. Plus, the weather was warm, the sky blue and a lot of green everywhere. There were moments I forgot that I was in California or the United States because the scenery around me just seemed like a worlds away from where I came from. I was reminded of how much I loved road trips, how being on the road, leaving everything behind can do wonders to a stressed mind. Leaving Cayucos, we took this winding road amid mountains and large beautifully aged canopy trees that had perfectly crooked branches. Seeing them I realized that it was not a matter of learning to say no that makes a difference, but learning to choose the right yeses.

Last weekend, I chose the right yes.

The Riverfront in Downtown Napa.

The view from where we had dinner at The Pear Southern Bistro.

A nice cold beer to unwind after an afternoon of writing.

An intimate, sit-down wine tasting experience was the best way to end the weekend.

Ladybugs make me happy.

Napa was just what I needed. I came back more inspired to write. The weighed down feeling I had before I left for the trip was gone. Sometimes, all it takes is allowing yourself to step away for a few days to get your bearings back. We all need a rejuvenation break once in a while. It reminds me of what my aunt said to me a long time ago: like a car, our minds and bodies also need regular tune-ups for maintenance and better performance. Napa was my tune-up.

Also, I can't believe how time flies but Skylights Magazine finally launches this Friday. I'm beyond excited and nervous at the same time. You can sign up here for a notification. I'd love to see you there!

Skylights

I know I haven't written a post in a few weeks. Sorry for being in absentia again. But I have good reason. There's a project that I've been busily working on with Kari, and it has taken up a lot of my free time, including the time that I usually reserved for blogging.

But, I'm really excited about this project. It has been an idea that had been lurking around in my mind for, honestly, years. And more so in the last two. Then, in the last three months, in fact, since Kari became my NaNoWriMo buddy, I had a feeling that she would be the perfect person to work on this with. And I was right. Because this project wouldn't be the same without her, the same way Sherlock Holmes would not be Sherlock Holmes without Dr. Watson and Tom & Jerry would not be Tom & Jerry without the other. I know, I'm sounding a little dramatic here, but again, I'm excited and grateful!

Without further ado, here's a little peek of our project:

Skylights Magazine is a digital publication about embracing the unexpected in a city of a billion lights. The publication stems out of love for our two big cities - NYC and LA - known for its bright lights and allure of big dreams. But with all that glitter comes high expectations that can leave one feeling lost and disenchanted when life as planned or dreamed does not deliver. So, in Skylights, we hope to offer inspiration to embrace the unexpected that big city life, or life in general, throws our way. To embrace the unexpected in ourselves. That part of us that doesn't usually hold top rank title of lawyer, doctor, mother, performer. It is the profound moments in the simplest of things that Skylights aims to recognize and celebrate.

The magazine will officially launch on March 20th. I know that is a few weeks away but I'm really excited about this. In the meantime, you can sign up for the launch notification at skylightsmagazine.com. It's just a reminder about the launch. (Note: Your email address won't be kept on file after the notification, so no worries about receiving spam emails!)
 
Anyhow, I hope you check out our site. And I'm not abandoning this blog. I'm keeping this space of mine and will continue to blog periodically. Thanks for being awesome readers!