Fast Forward

Can we fast forward to December 5th? Pretty please??

My biggest work event of the year is coming up on December 4th and I'm so ready for it to be over. This year in particular is driving me nuts and I'm looking forward to some post-event down time and relaxing. In the meantime, here's what I've been up to!

Starting way back with a visit to Nigh Shift Brewery! So fun.

Toad is my signature Halloween costume, apparently.

Pretty fall days in Boston...

My new favorite instagram account. Thanks Andy!

One of my favorite Humans of NY posts <3 <3

My new obsession! Hot pot!!

Finally got to try this amazing beer! And it's basically named after me.

Just a big ole' puppy sleeping on my lap (the amount of hair on my leg is NOT okay).

Delicious brews at Cellarmaker in San Francisco!

Casual drive over the Golden Gate.

My first In-N-Out experience. Overrated IMHO.

 San Fran skyline from the Alcatraz ferry.

I hate taking selfies, but whatcha gonna do when you're playing tourist on your own?

Tiny Alcatraz jail cell.

I asked someone to take this of me. It was quite warm, but windy on the island!

Ramen at Orenchi in Santa Clara.

The beautiful Stanford campus that looks like Spain!

Hiking part of the "Skyline to Sea" trail. This day was PERFECT!

More beers at Half Moon By Brewery.

And one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. Sorry for picture overload!

Friendsgiving with the best of friends!

Typical Julie creation

That's all. Catch ya on the flipside...probably somewhere in mid December! :-)

The Best Things In Life

Today I stumbled upon a photo that I took in Brussels back in 2013.

It made me smile. It released a flood of memories. I remember feeling full from the huge pot of mussels I had eaten earlier. I remember the taste of Belgian beer on my tongue. I remember feeling warm, finally, after days of trudging through cold, rainy London and Paris. I remember the first time I set eyes on the Grote Markt at night, lit up in fantastic blues and purples and filled with people. I remember wanting to soak up every moment in the beautiful city. I remember feeling so happy and like the words on the wall were speaking right to me.

For the first time in a long time, I let my guard down today. I let myself remember things I had long ago tucked away in the back corners of my mind. I smiled. I laughed. I felt grateful for the experiences and the memories. I felt grateful for time.