It's called the happy list for a reason volume V.

So many reasons to be happy today! Here's a quick list:

• Sunshine, sunshine, sunshine + sunflowers
• Exercise
• Having the best partner-in-crime I could ask for
• My CountDown app, which tells me that I will officially be on spring break in 16 days, home in 20, a college senior in 73, in Paris in 120, and legally able to buy myself an adult beverage in 154 :)
• The brief nap I'm about to take

Hope you're all having great days as well!

If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair.

On Saturday of this past weekend, two of my girlfriends and I decided we needed a break from Berkeley for our sanities' sake. (My computer tells me that "sanities" isn't a word, but "sanity" wouldn't be correct either, right?) Sometimes this place is just a little more intense than I really feel like dealing with. So we booked a room (shown above!) at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. I had stayed there once before but forgot how cute and convenient it is!

The best part of the hotel: these fabulous and lush robes that are free of charge to wear!

Such a good recommendation I got from my friend Kelsey

Also, we may or may not have gone to sleep before 11:30

We spent the day shopping and the night drinking wine and a delicious dinner at this cute little Italian place that I unfortunately cannot remember the name of. If it comes to me I'll update this!

Capellini (top) that was literally TO DIE FOR. I will probably dream about it tonight.

Creme brulee (bottom) equally delicious, but not quite as good as the chocolate cake my friends got!

My one complaint about the trip is that the shopping was really disappointing! I think it was because I had very specific things I wanted to buy, but either couldn't find them or chickened out of spending a lot. My sole purchase (I don't think I have ever been able to use the term "sole purchase" before. Shopping is an addiction) was this fabulous light pink blazer from Aritzia. It was only $85, which is pretty reasonable for a blazer. So happy I stumbled upon it while Kate tried things on.

Awkward iPhone picture, per my mother's request to see the blazer. Aren't you jealous?!

All in all, this was a fabulous getaway! I feel totally refreshed and ready to take on the next two weeks. Sometimes all you need is a nice distraction, and I'm so grateful that we distracted ourselves in such style this weekend. :)

**My apologies for all the awkward photos! Some were taken from Facebook, and my camera is super janky.

Time for a new one!

"When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky."

Thanks for the reminder, Paige. I needed it.

Tomorrow, rain or shine, I will laugh at the sky.

I'll believe it when I see it.

When I saw this on my weather app this morning, I had to do a double take: what on earth is that white stuff it predicts on Saturday? I understand how blessed we Californians are for the wonderful year-round weather, but it's hard to see the glass half full this time. It was literally warm enough for me to wear just a t-shirt yesterday, today it rained all day, and Saturday it's supposed to snow?! What is this? It feels like some alternate not-California universe! Okay, I'll stop complaining now. Sunshine Sunday, perfect for a hike maybe :)

It's officially the weekend, which means I finally have some time to relax. I've got a little arts and crafts project planned, a skype date with my best friend Morgan, and a night at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco with Laura and Kate. I absolutely cannot wait to get out of Berkeley (if even for just one night) and shop and relax and just have fun.

Coming up on the blog:

• My arts and crafts project
• Update on the fitness plan
• My quest for a new camera

Hope you all [Kendall and Paige!] have a wonderful weekend!

And now for some reflection.

on one of my hikes! Top of the fire trails in Berkeley--and I promise it's far more incredible in person.

When I woke up today at 7 AM, I thought to myself, "Hey, in 12 hours it still won't be time for me to go to bed." Always nice to start my day off with some pessimism! Sarcasm aside, though, I just realized I have now been awake for more than 17 hours. There are only 24 hours in a day. If I spend 17 hours of a day awake, that means there are only 7 hours for sleeping. And with the way I toss and turn and wake up with a pin drop, even 7 hours is a bit of a stretch. But stressing about it is no way to fix it.

I have just been too stressed/drained/blah to deal. I think I need some quality sleep and relaxation.

Oddly enough, this external drama was all I needed to get out of my personal funk. I haven't felt sorry for myself in over a week. Maybe things are looking up after all. Spring break is only three weeks away!

Life is hard sometimes. That's about all there is to it.

Smarter, Better, Faster, Stronger

Today, as soon as I woke up, I went on my usual 3 mile run to Safeway. I've run this route probably 30 times in the past year, but for some reason this morning felt really different. Since my grandpa's funeral yesterday, I feel like I've been noticing him everywhere: when all the grandchildren released balloons into the sky and they all drifted toward the beach, when the older gentleman sitting next to me on the plane made small talk (which my grandpa would have done, because he could make friends with anyone), and a million other little things that just let me know that he's here.

Usually during my runs I huff and puff and struggle to get through it. And while I certainly walked a good portion, I felt stronger than ever before. At my grandpa's service yesterday, a couple people talked about how steadfast he was in Alcoholics Anonymous. He was always good for inspiration, and would never hesitate to take a new sponsee or a midnight phone call begging for help. I know I was inspired by this steadfastness and diligence to the task at hand. My shadow may have depicted a sluggish pace, but as I ran, I felt stronger, taller, and more empowered than ever before.

As sad as I am to see my grandpa Nick go, I am forever grateful that he's now constantly by my side helping me navigate through life.