Visions of Home

Even though I'm back at work, I'm treating this week between Christmas and New Years like a vacation. Why not? The San Francisco sky is crisp, the traffic is almost non-existent, and another holiday weekend is approaching. Sure I'm still rocking the 9-5, but there's a way to have it all now isn't there? I made sure to schedule lots of nourishing activities pre- and post-work (yoga, soup date with a friend, baking date with a friend, Audrey Hepburn marathon, sushi dinners, leisurely strolling the aisles of my favorite grocery store, a civilized–and solo–glass of wine at Tartine while flipping through the New Yorker).

I must admit, I slightly dreaded this week. It was the first time I'd ever officially worked between the holidays. Suddenly in the thick of it, however, I had no idea how much I would enjoy this quiet time in the city. Maybe my current calm and positive frame of mind was shaped by my cozy and loving trip down to L.A., where family and friend time was plentiful, food was comforting and the hot SoCal sun warmed my heart. Even though my family isn't with me this week, I still feel their closeness and the magic that we created together during this holiday season:



The Christmas dinner table at Heather and Alex's.



Pitted dates sizzling on the stove top: the key ingredient to Lumberjack Cake.



An early morning table, kissed by the sun.



My Mom's famous Gingerbread Men.



Sweet Iroha bringing laughter and smiles to Christmas Eve dinner.



All my favorite people in a row, together in one room.



Still...

Trying to live in the moment, while visions of home dance in my head.