Vegas: The family wheels

upon a time, when I was still just a wee young little version of the human I am today, I lived in my grandpa's house with a few other family members. It was the hub of the relatives, and every holiday season the extended branches would return to the root and have a massive feast together. It was a large family, so there were many different personalities that could lead to arguments over dinner, but for the most part, it was a jovial and merry time... but after my great old grandpa passed on after an extended battle with illness, the siblings devolved into in-fighting and drifted apart with the years. The family house was sold, grandpa's car driven off to another state, and life went on. Given that I spent many of my formative years living in his house, I was quite close to my grandfather and losing him hurt pretty badly. Sure, I was adopted into the family, and always kind of felt a bit like an outsider (I was the only one in the family with both brown hair and brown eyes, so I was the brunette sheep of the clan) but grandpa? He never let that be the case for long. When my parents would fight, he'd let me take shelter in his room and offer me a cream soda from his private stash, and ensure I got a gift at Christmas. He helped me purchase the car I still have to this day. When it came to my education, he was my biggest champion and encouraged me to get good grades and push to learn more. Life isn't perfect, and neither was he, but he left a strong impression on me as a kid and I credit him for inspiring me to achieve some of the more difficult things I've managed in my life. 

Somewhere down the road, quite literally, my grandpa's car found it's way back to me. Unfortunately, after being driven off by my Uncle (who had, at the time, decried me too irresponsible for the vehicle), things had taken a dire turn for the worse. We were given the car for free, which was exceptionally nice of my aunt to do after sinking her own money into trying to get the car operational again, but we quickly found that she was still inoperable. We made it less than a full block before plumes of steam were wafting out from under the hood, and the transmission completely failed to react. I've no clue what exactly happened to the poor old girl, but she had hardly any miles on her. The Volvo I had prior to my grandpa's passing, however, is nearing 200,000 miles on her original transmission and only recently had her first issues, so I'm pleased to know my uncle's appraisal of my vehicular responsibility was incorrect and the judgment misplaced. 

So these photos serve as a bit of a time capsule. My grandfather drove me to eat chicken fried steak for breakfast in this car when I was just an adolescent, and while it hurt to see it go, we couldn't afford to fix the extent of issues she'd developed. We sold her to a mechanic, so hopefully she's been rebuilt and is on the road again, but I'll always have these photos to preserve the memory. 

Thanks for everything, grandpa. 💖

💙

XOXO,

NAU

Vegas: Firefighters

What do you do when your engine catches fire?!

Well, ideally, you find a safe place to pull over and call the emergency services... In this case, that's what the unfortunate driver of this flaming vehicle had to do. While, thankfully, I've never personally experienced my engine bursting into flames, I have had to deal with it overheating on the regular thanks to Las Vegas's supremely unforgiving summer temperatures. While it's not as hot as the surface of the sun, or Death Valley (doesn't the name say it all, though?), it's hot enough to do some real damage when it's peak summer temperatures out. Given that most vehicles on the road these days are combustion engines, there's a lot of flammable liquids under high pressure and a lot of room for things to go wrong. The car involved here was probably not going to be salvageable to drive due to the extent of the damages, but at least it didn't escalate into a larger fire. Never underestimate the threat of a well-fed fire, or the danger of any fire, really. Las Vegas is a desert and the environment extremely dry, so it doesn't take much of a spark to ignite an inferno.

I don't know about you, but I'm definitely grateful for the firefighters and other emergency personnel that put their lives on the line to save ours. It's not always a glamorous job- sometimes the Las Vegas Fire Department has to roll out to extinguish a flaming shopping cart, or to help someone who's fallen at a casino after over-indulging in the free booze offered throughout the gaming areas to anyone playing. And emergencies can happen at any time of day, too- so there's no rest for the weary. They might stop to grab a quick bite to eat and before their food is ready be called out again, leaving behind their meal and their money. Like I said, I'm grateful for the work they do. I don't know that I'm cut out for it, but my maternal grandpa was an EMT later in life after being inspired by those who saved his life during a heart attack, so I guess he instilled that appreciation into me young. 

Seeing them in action is a good reminder of the service they provide our communities!

10 Things I Love on Etsy November 2018

It has, unfortunately, been a bit of a while (uh, since May, guys) since I've done one of these posts cataloging some of my favorite Etsy finds from the prior month. This has not been by choice, mind you, but more due to principle: Your girl Nau has been way, waaaaaay too busy working on making that money to worry about the idle ways in which to spend it... I know, a shame, but I'm back at it with this post and happy to share some of my sexiest finds from the Etsy-sphere!

Let's get started!

1. ROSE QUARTZ moon ring size Us, made to ORDER, raw jewelry, copper electroformed, crescent moon, knuckle ring, midi stacking, moon phases

Um, have we ever talked about how much I love gemstones? I can prattle on for a ridiculously long time about how much I adore the sunny shades of citrine or the soothing purple of amethyst, but who can resist pretty-in-pink Rose Quartz?! It's such a feminine, gorgeous shade of pink and the stone itself is symbolic of love, both that ever-rare love of self-acceptance or unconditional external love, rose quartz is all about the warm and fuzzy feelings.  Anything lunar is a guaranteed win in my book, too, so, naturally, I can't resist this gorgeous hand-made moon ring! 

2. CRYSTAL PIPE - Lunar Blue Goldstone gemstone pipe, boho smoking pipe, psychedelic smoking bowl, rainbow galaxy pipe, gift

Yoooo, get your chakras right with this gem-stone pipe! The shop is currently on break, but you might be able to catch them again soon so if you dig this piece give it a favorite and Etsy should notify you when they're back online! 

3. Mandarin Mimosa 9oz Soy Candle - Classic Collection

This Mandarin mimosa soy candle is right up my alley this winter. I've been burning so many candles, and luxuriating in their fragrances to the best of my ability. As a partial anosmiac, I don't have a very strong sense of smell to cull from, but working with essential oils and mindfulness I've been able to bring a little more depth to a sense I normally never noticed. This has given me the ability to appreciate a whiff of vanilla from a candle where before I might have simply gotten a headache, so this new appreciation for all this scentsual has brought on a strong desire to sniff ALL the candles! And this particular candle fuses many of my favorites, "like mandarin oranges, pineapple, and peaches blended with mimosa blossoms, soft lavender and vanilla." Ohhhh yes. Doesn't that sound delightful?!

4.Get Lost Hard Enamel Pin, Mountain Pin, Adventure Pin, Explore Pin, Hiking Pin, Cute Funny Pin, Nature Pin, Let's Get Lost, Stocking Filler

OMG! Is this pin not the cutest?! It's got one of those goofy silhouette birds we all learned to draw as kids, trees, mountains, and that wanderlust spirit we all know and love. 

5. Dark Blue Hair Dye

This hair dye has long been on varying wishlists of mine, and now that I know the shop and I share a city, I'm all the more inclined to buy it! The hardest part is trying to decide which of their gorgeous shades I want to try, but luckily they do offer multipacks, either in the form of their astronomy-themed lines like the Moon pack (shades of grey) or the Split Dye packs for people who want to try the edgy half and half look. 

6. Magenta Pink Angel Aura Healing Crystal Necklace -Turquoise Gold Dipped Rainbow Bullet Pastel Boho-Galaxy Natural Quartz Jewellery -Stone

Is this necklace magical or what?! I'm a total sucker for gemstones, and pendants, and necklaces, so this is a natural fit. I love how irridescent and refractive the stones are!

7. Watermelon Crossbody Bag

This watermelon crossbody bag is ridiculously cute. Not only does it fuse the fruity fresh and cute flavor of summer into any damn season you want it to, but it's practical! Carry your phone, your chapstick, and other goodies in this fresh and fun tote! 

8. Raw crystal necklace Healing crystal necklace Angel Aura Quartz Necklace Opal crystal necklace Rainbow quartz point Unicorn crystal gold

WOW! So, obviously I'm a fan of crystals, right? Isn't the blue-reflect on this stone GORGEOUS?! With that pretty gold chain it's all the more classy. These would make a wonderful gift for that crystal loving boho-spirit in your life!

9.  Crescent Moon Ring, Half Moon Ring, Zodiac Ring HSRMOON

Ok, so not only is this crescent moon ring ridiculously lovely, but you get to choose what metal you want it made with! So if you're more into silver, or rose gold, never fear, this shop has got you covered, in style, naturally. 

10.

Handcrafted Exfoliating Sugar Scrub - Japanese Kumquat/ Body Scrub / Natural Body Scrub / Vegan / Soothing/ Smoothing/ Inspirational/Citrus

And last but not least, this beauty rounds out the round-up. I'm obviously going hard on that winter citrus theme, with Japanese kumquat scented sugar scrub helping freshen up our senses during the long-grey season. 

What do you think? Did you find any new favorites among my round-up of this season's favorites? Hope you enjoyed this list! Cheers!

💖

XOXO,

NAU

Washington: An assortment of shrooms and blooms

Life, uh, finds a way.

Never, in my experience, has that proven truer than here in the Pacific Northwest. Life abounds, multiplies, squeaks, squawks, shouts and slithers. There are vines crawling up any tree or surface they can get hold on, moss and molds fuzzing up on an astounding (and annoying, for home owner's) array of surfaces, and the mushrooms...oh boy, the mushrooms! While Antho and I have both invariably dabbled in the psychedelic kind at one point or another during our younger years, we're still quite fascinated by the sheer variety in shape, color, and size of mushrooms in all their forms. There's no shortage of mushrooms to be found up here, where the ambient moisture allows ample soft, decaying woods and roots for the mycological oddities to feed upon. Did you know that the mushrooms we see above ground are actually just the fruiting bodies and that the overall body of the mushroom is hidden underground? It's kind of like seeing only the apples but not the apple tree... And while we'd occasionally find some form of fungi growing in Nevada, it was rarely this varied or colorful! We've found deep purple mushrooms snaking their way through the yard, tracing the path of a tree root, and nearly trampled itty bitty little white caps barely the size of a pencil eraser! Then there are these big, fluffy pancake looking beasts that seem to happily lay claim to the yard, too, before suddenly recoiling into themselves and collapsing, like a dying star, except their final collapse withers away into a displeasing brownish-black sludge of unmistakable decay instead of a supernova. I suppose that's the preferable, route, though, as mini-supernova wouldn't make a pleasant yard-find. 

Anyway, improbabilities of physics aside, mushrooms are super common to find up here. They come in a startling range of options! You shouldn't eat any that you find without being supervised by a trained professional! Yes, you can become a professional mycologist. Mushrooms can, and do, make excellent food options and can be absolutely and utterly delicious, but there are simply SO MANY KINDS of mushrooms out there, and many look SO similar, that you really should leave it to a knowledgeable professional to select edible mushrooms when foraging. There's the handy Puget Sound Mycological Society (PSMS for short) for Seattle and Puget-adjacent residents, who are happy to teach and inform new-comers and the cap-curious in their clinics and classes.  I'm sure other areas have their own fungi-fan-clubs, too! I've met people who were fascinated by the fungal forms all the way over in Japan and Korea, along with Stateside, so I've no doubt there's plenty of resources if you're willing to dig a bit!  

These guys are just a scattered sampling of the various finds we've stumbled upon in our own backyard. Enjoy!

Washington: Fall leaves

What's your favorite time of year? 

Without any shade of doubt, I'm a child of the winter and fall months. When the summer heat finally breaks and starts to wane with a chill sliding into the shadows and caressing your bones, blushing your cheeks, fogging your breath, I'm at my happiest. The shade grows longer and colors deepen, taking on more dramatic hues. And so many holidays! With the cold asserting it's claim to the outdoor spaces, there's all the more reason to nestle into a warm and cozy blanket and snuggle or read, or pursue other pursuits best enjoyed indoors on cold, drizzly days. Halloween justifies the purchase of exorbitant quantities of candy, and then consuming them when an underwhelming number of trick-or-treaters comes a'knocking. Then there's Thanksgiving, with its shameless, unabashed glorification of gluttony and all the glories of heaping mounds of deliciousness piled upon groaning plates. Sweet potatoes and pumpkin, pies and cakes and candies galore. It's a feast for the senses, literally and figuratively speaking. Here in the Pacific Northwest, the seasons like to mark their passage with extra flair, with bursts of brilliant oranges and reds and yellows cropping up from the most unlikely of places to shout "FALL!"  

And really, who can blame them? Such opulent beauty should be celebrated, like Marilyn Monroe in her prime. It's all too fleeting in this world, as the rapid passage of fall into the greys of winter and passing of stars in their prime likes to remind us. Many of the most wonderful things about life are incredibly fleeting, gone before we even realize how lucky we are to have them in the first place. The waning of the seasons is an excellent reminder to be mindful, to enjoy the moment while it lasts, because soon it will be an entirely different moment and there's no guarantees of certainty. Storms blow through and rip branches off of otherwise stolid, sturdy trees, and friends or family can fade into the ether before we realize they've gone. Be grateful for who and what you have, while it's there, and enjoy the time you're given. All that cheese, all that jazz, man. 

  

Much love,

💘

XOXO,

NAU

Washington: Foggy Fall Morn and Morning Pages

Imagine; cool air kissing your cheeks as the first gentle rays of morning sunlight tentatively glimpse through the clouds, birdsong and squirrel chatter filling the air as rich coffee steam fills your nostrils. Kisses on the forehead and tiny smooches from a furry friend. It's not a bad way to start the day, right? I'm certainly not complaining. I can't really recall now how long Antho's been in the habit of making my coffee for me, but it's been a consistent occurrence since we've moved north. He's generally an early riser and has been since the beginning, though I'm still trying to adapt to this whole morning thing. I've gotten into the habit of writing morning pages, which is a fancy term for stream-of-consciousness journaling when you first wake up. I first heard about on the Lavendaire podcast, I think, when Aileen was discussing it with one of her guests. Since my day job gives me full permission to listen to headphones while I work, I've taken the opportunity to catch up on all those podcasts and streams I've been missing!  When it comes to morning pages, the advantages are manifold, but for me, the most important have been clarity and space. I am always traveling and running around for my job, and traffic in Seattle is no joke! It's really easy for my type-A, perfectionistic, over-analytical personality to get overwhelmed and stressed out, and I've got the white hairs to prove it. Taking the time to clear my mind and prepare for the day, both mentally and physically, has been a huge step forward in managing my anxiety and stress levels. There have been some hiccups along the way, as Antho typically has way more energy upon rising than I do, so it took a few tries for him to understand and appreciate that my morning process is a bit different. These days, he'll bring my coffee in and give me some time to write out my thoughts while he steps outside for some fresh air and vaping. This gives him some time to relax and rev up for the day, while I get my words out onto paper and psyche myself up for the day's challenges. This has given me so much insight, whether it's tuning in to my body and recognizing that I have a fever and need to spend the day resting, or acknowledging a frustration or roadblock that prevents me from achieving my goals. Every day is a work in progress, but as long as we keep working, we'll keep improving, right?

Washington: Ikea trip!

Ikea is one of those highly envied and much imitated monolithic institutions that have managed to secure one of the rarest and highly desired consumer commodities: trust, familiarity, and a feeling of comfort felt almost unilaterally throughout their diverse consumer base. Is it that unpronounceable word Hygge manifest that makes their stores so deeply loved and universally appealing, or an ingenious marketing schema tailored to the minute details of the consumer cultures each of their stores adopt to? There's a similarity throughout Ikeas worldwide that makes them a comforting, familiar sort of place, whether you're shopping outside of Tokyo, South of Seattle, in Vegas or China... but, naturally, the store does adapt some of its design aesthetics to suit the needs of the particular location's culture and needs. That's just smart marketing and business, right? You probably won't find many Japanese homes with extensive, open design kitchens so there will be little tweaks to their displays to make their designs work in the space given your typical consumer. Even with these little details taken into consideration, there's that ever present familiarity of wandering in a perpetual state of nearly-lost through the winding labyrinth and neon-glow of your local Ikea. Surely the same technology used for the Doctor's TARDIS can account for the immensity of the spaces once you're inside because they never seem quite so big enough to account for it all on the outside.   

Not only are there countless tasteful, or trend-conscious, or outright outlandish, furniture and decoration choices to be found in your local Ikea, but their food counter is legit, too! And, naturally, most of the food available for consumption in their cafeteria is also available to take home to enjoy from their small grocery corner, which, after building up an appetite winding your way through countless displays and mock bedrooms, may end up being all the more appealing. We were hungry upon our arrival, so we opted to grab some food before shopping, which was a good idea, I think. We ended up ordering a lot of stuff, and between the food coma slipping over Antho and my guts deciding to revolt against life, the universe, and everything, it was a shopping trip made more interesting due to digestion. Good stuff. In the end, I did manage to find a desk and a new desk chair, after retiring my much beloved and long-suffering desk and chair from Vegas, which has followed me through multiple residences and been stuffed into multiple vehicles. When it came time to move our lives, and all of our collective STUFF, up to Washington, I was happy to let my old desk and chair go, for free, to a new owner. While we'd been putting a lot of our stuff out on the curb to awake and find it gone, during our last day or two of clearing out we met one of the neighbors who'd gathered most of it and simply gave the rest to him to do with what he pleased. We had old bicycles that needed a little repair to be usable, furniture we wouldn't be taking, all sorts of stuff. Worked out well for us, and for our friendly neighbor! 💗 

As far as our visit to Ikea on this particular day, I managed to find a computer desk that works well for me. While, originally, I'd had my eye on a particular model with an attached shelf, I'm happy with the options I ended up selecting. It was a lot more affordable, thanks to Christina explaining more of the Ikea hacks to me, like selecting your table top and then buying legs of your own choosing. Naturally, I ended up picking out legs that didn't really work with the holes pre-drilled into the desktop I chose, but Antho managed to make it work. A true #Ikeahack! Might make it a little more iffy when we have to move the desk at a later point in time, but, uh, let's save that obstacle for the future for now. As of this moment in time, I have a wonderful desk that serves its purpose with ample space for me to obsessively work at my planner, my morning pages project, our Etsy, my blog, and all the photo-editing and video-editing to come. It's a real workhorse, my desk.