A-Ray of Sunshine: It's the simple things in life...

OK. New goal: to write in this blog more often! I have done so much in the last five months, and then rack my brain of ways to spill all these things into one blog. But that's exactly what this post is going to be about. Taking time to slow down and REALLY enjoy the things that truly make you happy & sharing it with others around you!
Living in San Diego is wonderful! Being surrounded by so many things to do, not only in this city but in California in general, the possibilities are endless. I have said many times that I could spend the next 5 years of my life exploring California alone and be perfectly happy. However I have found the things that I have enjoyed the most throughout my recent adventures, often come down to the simplest things in that moment making me smile.
In the past few months I have been to Hollywood, Las Vegas, attempted surfing, ate at some of the best restaurants this city has to offer, been to a live taping of Chelsea Lately (one of my favorite tv shows might I add, she is fabulous!)... I could sit here and list things for days and days of all the "glamourous" California-lifestyle things that I have done, and I am grateful for them all. But when I think about some of my favorite moments, it's not about the glitz and glamour and expensive restaurants or Las Vegas shows or ANY of that.
My fondest memories have been those moments where I realize "Wow. My life is amazing. This is beautiful. THIS is LIVING. And I am SO thankful." To me, my favorite moments include a beautiful sunset on the beach on the fourth of July with the company of great friends. Riding a bike and pulling your friend on a skateboard to the beach at 2 am just to sit in the sand and enjoy the waves. Driving down the freeway and even though you are in the midst of rush hour traffic, thanking God for giving you the desire to follow your dreams, and realize you are living them, and you are exactly where you want to be at that moment. A day of hiking along the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean and being in the company of what will surely be a life long friend who shares the same rare sense of adventure. Endulging in that yummy dessert (or pint of ben & jerry's!) that you know is the best part no matter how sinful it may seem later. A night in with the girls with good food and good wine and knowing that we are all equally grateful for having each other in our lives. THESE things are what makes life worth living.

So that being said, I wanted to share a few of my recent adventures, but also leave you with the challenge to stop and be thankful for the things that TRULY make you happy. "What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things that you thanked God for today?" What would you thank HIM for? What makes your life worth living?