National Holiday Memo Missed?

You'd swear today was a holiday & the holiday was hate-a-barista-day.

Today I woke up at 4:20am thinking it was just another typical opening monday for myself at the good ol' Miss Kelly's Cafe. Boy by 9am did I realize I was thoroughly mistaken. Today was that kind of day that at first you think it is just you in a bad mood, thinking maybe you just haven't been able to shake of the sleepies & wake up for the day when making lots of caffeinated beverages for groggy customers. But then begins to reveal itself as the kind of day in which everyone can't shake the grog & the grog becomes grump & domino effects everyone in its path. Unfortunately today I became victim to this unspoken holiday & can only be left with the thought that I am sooo utterly thankful it is only 12:43 in the afternoon, which leaves hours upon hours for this morning trend to redeem itself entirely. Let's see what today can do towards redemption ;)


Danielle Nicole.

God is sooo Good.

God is so good. & This week I have completely been reminded of His care & faithfulness. A little over a year ago a friend sent me a poem written in the narrative of God to myself. She inserted my name into certain parts & this week this piece from that poem keeps ringing in my mind as I continue to pursue trusting Him & allowing myself to let go of worries & stresses that I seem to hold on to. 


"I want you to stop planning, Dani, stop wishing and allow Me to give you the most thrilling plan existing, 
one that you cannot imagine.
Please allow Me to bring it to you. You just keep watching Me, expecting the greatest things. Keep experiencing the satisfaction that I Am. Keep listening and learning the things I tell you.
You just wait. That's all. Don't be anxious. Don't worry.
Dani, don't look at the things you think you want; you just keep looking off and away up to Me, or you'll miss what I want to show you...


Dani, know that I love utterly.  I Am God. Believe it and be satisfied in that."


This week has been so good.
God is so good.
PTL.


Danielle Nicole.

Red Lips.

Red lipstick has a very unique, powerful affect on women, & men, when they encounter a red-lipped woman, some might argue as well.

One Friday, my coworker & I deemed, Red Lipstick Friday. A Rendition, if you will, of Casual Friday, only opposite in a sense being that everyday at Miss Kelly's Cafe can be casual wear day.

I can only say I have worn red lipstick one other day of my life besides this Friday. (Other than the days of playing with mom's makeup or my Barbie makeover set or something as a kid, obbbviiiii) So this day was a day of new experience, learning, & soaking in the power of the red lipstick (dun, dun, dunn)

The 3 things I noticed most by the end of the day & through the night of having this style upon my lips were, a new sense of beauty, confidence, & power. 

--Beauty: The beauty of red lipstick is an eclectic unique true-to-it's-own beauty. An almost old fashion, or maybe vintage-esk fashion to it; pure, slightly rebelled, yet classy.

--Confidence: A girl who can put on red lipstick & own the look exudes confidence, even if she isn't typically confident in her appearance. The red speaks a bold, yet mysterious voice that says come closer, but watch out ;) 

--Power: its a bold, fierce look that breathes power & fierce style. It can empower a woman on what may seem like the most normal of days.

So to those of you women who have never worn red lipstick, try it out. I definitely encourage you to experience the unique beauty, confidence, & empowerment all from a tiny stick of color :)


Danielle Nicole.

Goooood Day.

Things i LOVED about today:

-waking up next to the beautiful Erica Lynn.
-Coming home to the most delightful of surprises, a gift from a dear friend: beautiful, rustic, hand-decorated frames.
-Seeing my NEPHEW Cohen for the first time, & seeing one of my dearest friends, his wonderful mother, Kate, & father, Victor.
-Seeing old good friends.
-Pizza, Cookies, & Wine with the Olavarri's.
-Games & sweatpants till wee hours of the morning.

Today was goooood. Amen.


Danielle Nicole.

Growing up & all that jazz.

"gah i wish life was a movie.

for many reasons, 

1. everyone in movies looks amazing, duh. 

2. things work out in the end, & 

3. you can fast forward, rewind, & pause." 

Quote Dani Davis, tonight. & Let's be honest we can all relate to this a litttttle bit, right? Or am I alone in this? ha Nonetheless, tonight I had such a filling conversation with one of my dearest cousins & it really made me think about growing up & how I am currently in one of the biggest, or most influential stages of "growing up" in my life. & the scariest part is realizing it. This conversation was honest & raw & full of a mixture of logic & emotions. Pain and lessons being learned in the moment and realizing that these are the things that are shaping who we are becoming & the decisions we are making & will make in the future, even when the lesson is: never do that again.

To just let our hearts unfold to one another really allowed our hearts to intertwine & produce something that really pierced my soul. Its that new level of friendship that you unlock when something raw and messy breaks the ice & the friendship still stands, & it stands deeper, more solid, with more love. The kind of level of friendship we need with at least a few people, or at least one. The level that allows you to be you, beyond the degrees, or the facebook friend requests, or the make up, or the job, or the role model you think you have to be. This level is you, just you. Raw, messy, but living, breathing, learning you. & the only thing that makes some of those hard lessons seem okay and bearable are those who walk alongside us through it & have raw, intimate friendships that remind us we are human & grace is thick.

Thank you Erica, you're beautiful,
Merry Christmas.

Danielle Nicole.

Break for the Holidays, Amen.

Let's just be honest about this past year: I have notttttt read 40 books yet (which was my goal for the year)

Buttttt I am on my 26th & about 7 halves of other various books ha, oh me & my quirky reading habits. But that is still a major feat I feel for me this year, it's been a crazy one.

Okay now that that's out of the way, Lets just talk about winter break 2010.

Observations:
-Classic Davis house Christmas tree: white lights, red ribbon, & lots of white/crystal ornaments intermixed with classically home-made ones of the famous Dani & Nicholas Davis, iiiii thank you! ha love it.
-A severe lack in number of houses with christmas lights, or christmas lights lit at 9:30pm: a sad realization, however also allowing for good conversation with the greatest of a friend.

-The nature of growing up: #1 factor, facial hair factor on guys from home, what?! When did this happen, & When did you all grow into men? ha, also just the general maturing of friends & years inbetween our last meetings & memories, oh how a small trip home will remind you of the unstopping clock of time.
-A line of nike/vans in my room/closet: The beginning stages of a sibling taking over your room, ahhh I thought this day would never come! NooOOOOOO. haha, okay fine Nick, you can store your shoes, but i'm drawing a line.

Emotions:
-Joy: as I think is fitting as my first to write about because it is the one I feel the most of consuming my heart at home for this season. I have been so stressed & depressed lately, as a result for anyone trying to juggle 3 jobs & an endless list of bills & holiday expenses to top. Coming home & resting, breaking from my normal life, & jobs, & routine was a necessity & the people who have included me in their lives here this week have made it a true blessing from the moment I stepped off the plane. One of my dearest friends picked me up from the airport (I can't thank you enough, especially for waiting for my late flight & carrying my obnoxious ripped open box of holiday gifts! you're a gem, as always!), breakfast at Sylvia's before being taken home, a classic tradition I hope to keep forever & ever, amen? hah & since being home, spending time with those great friends, playing games, catching up & being encouraged & inspired from their lives & thoughts.
-Peace: Being up here has calmed a huge part of me. The part that goes from shifttoshifttocoffeetolunchtoballoons,&students,&friends. (If you didn't catch it there, that sentence leaves no room for breath, reflecting my lifestyle best). Not only have I been calmed from the general absence of work & duties I am responsible for, but being away from Orange County & my students really puts my job into a bigger picture for me. Just the 3 days I have been away I have talked to multiple students of mine, through text, call or the ever-favorite, facebook, and the amount of care and connection we have has been very amplified through absence. I always find it funny how life does that, allows you to see what you're in or doing when you take yourself out of it for a little while. I am looking forward to going back & loving my jobs separately, & with naps in between ;)
-Nostalgia: Of course, what would a Christmas holiday back home be without a little nostalgia right? It's not a deep longing that has got me thinking of quitting my jobs & moving back home, but it is an emotion I am feeling & perhaps always do & will at this season when I return home to where things are changing, but also seem constant & familiar to my senses. Seeing old, dear friends will do that to you when you sit around remembering the days you got your wisdom teeth out together & had to drink soup for dayyyyys, or the dances you danced away together, & the Napoleon dynamite dances you may or may not have learned every step to. Ha, these are the memories you remember that bring nostalgia, however, hearing about the degrees & families being made, & dreams being sought after are almost jusssst as good :)


Yes, this has definitely been a successful winter break, & much needed break at that, this year & for that I am thankful & ready for the holiday. Bring it on Saint Nick ;) Merry Christmas Eve everyone!


Danielle Nicole.

If I may.

Quote Tangled: "BEST DAY, EVERRRRRR!"
Now if you haven't seen tangled, well, neither have I, but go watch the trailor, & then let's go see it together. But once you've seen the trailor & understand the tone & weight of this quote, then proceed to my rendition to describe today:

Tangled Quote subtract BEST, *Substitute:Worst.... = "WORST DAY, EVERRRRR!!"

Ohkay now that I have described my feelings on today, let me then proceed to explain. First & completely foremost, I hate money. I hate the way it clings to me, in control of my every move & breath. & Just when I get a grip of it & decide i'm not stressed out over finances anymore, something monstrous always happens, let's be honest, this is life. It's like life can't hit you hard in one area at a time, but when life hits, it falls apart in every aspect. As if just having no car right now wasn't hard enough, or having 3 jobs & no car, but no the fix to the car has to be the "worst case scenario" as the Tow Man told me in options yesterday, & again my mechanic then reiterated to me in the form of a very close to 4 digit bill. Not the kind of thing you want to hear, ever, but especially while working 3 jobs and wondering how you're going to get home for the holidays, not to mention i'm avoiding the christmas gift issue entirely in my head. (promise i'll be a better gifter next year loved ones!)

However, as overwhelming this day was all before noon, I was overwhelmed with another, completely contrasting, emotion as I stepped into my apartment after work: Blessed. Funny how that happens on a day like today.  You see, because today I walked into my apartment to find a pretty good sized package sitting on the floor with my name on it. I opened it & completely full to the top it was, with tons of white chocolate reeces! One of my faves! I literally just stood there with tears streaming down my face, overwhelmed with the contrast of such a horrible morning & yet having such wonderful and thoughtful friends. I know you're totally thinking about how ridiculous I am to cry over white chocolate reeces, but hey we're all allowed to be a little wacky sometimes & today's my day.  So here I am today, stressed but humbled, & so thankful for such good friends and family, now on to the 2/3 left of this day.


Danielle Nicole.