An Urban Girl

We are getting ready to say our farewells to the Summer of 2010.   And what a summer it has been!  So many exciting first experiences with our girl... some lasts with Mr. Urban's beloved father...and many cherished moments in between, for Mr. Urban and I, and our family and friends... It seems like yesterday when we had gathered at Allied Arts , for a summer time luncheon to celebrate the opening of our dear friend's gallery, Pejman's .  We had sat at a long table on the patio of the restaurant in the gardens, under the vines, overlooking the turquoise tiled pool, sipping all kinds of delicious wines... It was then the start of the summer.  And that was also the day that my dream of having a lingering special meal with lovely friends in Tuscany had come true... (only we all didn't have to board a plane to Italy).  And as always, we approach the end of summer in a mad rush... to have one last summer night dinner with friends under the Silicon Valley stars, to have

This afternoon, while the UrbanToddler was napping in her car seat, we drove to Mayfield, where we could sit right in front of the car on their patio and share a panini and cappuccinos.  While we were enjoying the delicious afternoon snack, a lady walked by us, facing Mr. Urban.  After she got far enough, Mr. Urban mouthed CON- DO - LEEZZA.... As you know Ms. Rice has been back at Stanford, which is across the street from the Town and Country Village, which houses Mayfield. I wasn't too impressed with Mr. Urban to tell you the truth, for alerting me too late.  He seems to always want to come in the way of fame and me...  and only because he has the notion that I get too excited when I meet a famous person.  And what is wrong with a genuine emotion like excitement (well aside from a time when I cut-off Goldie Hawn mid-sentence, when she was talking to us as a guest of Mr. Urban's friend at an event we were all attending, to ask her if I could take her picture... I loved h

It's Friday! We called Mr. Urban from the park. Luckily we got the voicemail. "Please meet us at home at Noon" I said to the voicemail, in a most serious tone. I had asked him in the morning if he had any lunch meetings and he had said not yet. Good enough for me.... At 12:10 a very handsome Mr. Urban walks in... "What's UP?" There is chilled champagne, a baby arugula blend salad with feta and walnuts and delicious dressing, a ramekin filled with plump juicy green olives, and one filled with dry roasted almonds all set on the counter....Regina Spektor's sultry voice blaring from the speakers, probably too loud for mid-day... a Toddler, standing up in her high chair giggling and swinging her tooshy, fingers covered in orange pimentos that she dug out of the olives that are to be her nutritious lunch... "You Have Forty Minutes My Friends"..... he says in his lovely calm tone, smiling that cute smile of his... We take what we can!

When faced with a difficult or less than ideal situation, I need to talk it out.  I need to understand and be understood.  I need to fix things ASAP.  And if I can’t do that, then I need to confide in close friends, have a heart to heart with someone that can share my feelings and also give me perspective, you know, talk it out…  The style has mostly worked well for me over the years… A few close girlfriends, my mom, and sister, and Mr. Urban have all had their earful over the years, as I have maneuvered through relationships, careers, and life, and they have had a few good laughs. Until I became a mother.  Our sweet girl began crying hours after her first feeding in this world and did not stop for what seemed like an eternity…  Unbeknownst to almost 10 pediatricians, she was allergic to lactose, and from the moment a drop of milk entered her stomach until the moment it left her body, she would be in what seemed like excruciating pain, sometimes lasting over 13 hours…  And for t

If you haven't slept for a few night... perhaps due to an impending molar in your Toddler's mouth... or a gestating flu virus...  who really knows why....   And your days have been about caring for your lovely but slightly cranky child, boss or clients... Then, click here and turn the volume on high... throw your head back, relax those shoulders, hey, even close your eyes if the surroundings are child proofed.... and ENJOY this perfect moment... And now get back to your work! 

Isn't it amazing that what we truly need always finds its way to us in this busy universe of ours, even through all the world chaos and 3G and 4G wireless signals... What I seem to need and attract is inspiration for living a beautiful life. When I was younger, I just lived and processed experiences, followed by boredom, followed by the next experience...  (you get it...) Until one day, when I came across a precious book , that taught me to look for beauty in every frame that comes across my lens and then create a lovely journey by putting one beautiful frame after the next. So it was that in my early twenties, I landed on a path of looking for joyful simplicities in everyday life.... A little while later, my mother was introduced and subsequently introduced me to another precious book . This book, which I could not read nor understand without the help of a scholar on the subject, profoundly opened my eyes to the possibility of living in a world that is all love, all creativi

Mr. Urban left early this morning on a business trip. So the UrbanToddler and I have been keeping busy and trying not to miss him on this beautiful Sunday morning.  First it was a session of Mommy & Me & My Lamb yoga.  And when that started getting stale, we decided to go for a long walk around Los Altos. When my mother was visiting, she took my girl on walks everyday, and on these walks she showed her all the sprinklers that are all over town. She taught her to say Looleyeh Aab (which means water pipe in Farsi), which has become her favorite new word. A couple of days ago I taught her the word Sprinkler, when she was trying to show her friend Billy a Looleh Aab at the park. As it turns out, looking for sprinklers can keep you very busy and happy for hours... And when you are so busy, things will most definitely sneak up on you... It was when my girl was stpomping through some beautiful auburn leves that I suddenly noticed that Fall has come to Los Altos.  The

The UrbanToddler started school yesterday.  Throughout my life and especially the past year I have envisioned this day.  I am always casted as June Cleaver in my dreams.  But leave it to life not to resemble the movies….  My father completely took me off guard when he was visiting us last week, and announced that he wants to take my girl school shopping.  It has been a busy summer.  A busy year.  I had no idea August was already here and almost gone.   I told my dad that I was planning on taking her shopping in the next couple of days (with the slight irritation of someone who is reminded of their responsibilities).  But if you know my father, then you would know that once he gets an idea in his head, there is no setting him off course.  Even when my mother tried to gently veer him off by telling him, “Dear, this is a special outing for kids and their moms and dads” staring him in the eyes for emphasis.   But he replied “There is no time left. [The UrbanToddler] and I are going

Yesterday the UrbanToddler and I made a date with Mr. Urban’s mother for today.   It was to be our first post-loss outing together and I wanted it to be special for her.   She is way too young to have lost her life partner.   And that has made her find the ways of the world somewhat cruel and senseless.   In times of great distress and loss, being close to beautiful nature and special people work your wounds like a charm.   So I felt that a visit to FILOLI was in order.    FILOLI is a 16 acre country estate and formal garden in Woodside , California , spread between the foothills of Santa Cruz Mountain and the Crystal Springs Lake .   It was built by the Bourne family in 1915, and in 1975 subsequent owners of the estate, the Roth family, donated the estate in its entirety to the National Trust for the Historic Preservation.     You may remember FILOLI from scenes of Dynasty, as the Carrington mansion… As we parked the car and walked through the magnificent olive grove I could

You find your girl asleep in her stroller upon returning from a last minute grocery shopping trip, minutes before dinner...

Its Friday morning.  The air in Los Altos is fresh and cool and each breath reaches way down into your lungs to replenish you... The UrbanToddler finally slept through the night (she had been getting up at odd hours for a couple of weeks)...  So the household, including my parents who are staying with us and have been tirelessly helping us, all got some much needed sleep. Yesterday, we had attended a lovely and intimate cremation service for Mr. Urban's father, followed by a luncheon.  By the time we got home, we were grateful that it was Thursday afternoon, and we could go for a quiet stroll at the farmers' market.  We picked up some beautiful heirloom tomatoes, and a whole wheat baguette. Mr. Urban, our girl, my mom, dad and I then sat on our patio for the next few hours, sipping Pinot Noir (and ice water for those of us not of age) and listening to Sting's Nothing Like The Sun album.  The tomatoes with some good olive oil and the bread were delicious and the perf

It was go go go for endless hours on Monday, but then around 7 pm it all came to a beautiful and loving pause. When I think back to my childhood and our life in Iran, every thought and memory ends up having something to do with Family Ties.   Families were large, effortlessly close and always around.   When my parents made Canada our new home years ago, the first few years were the most difficult, because it was impossible to imagine what life would be like with just the six of us.   Soon we learned as all expats do, that you find your family in your new formed friendships.  They become your brides maids and grooms men, they attend your graduation and celebrate your child's birth, and will be your in case of emergency contact....  They get you, the kind of love and closeness you miss and need in your new life...   And over the past eight years, as Mr. Urban and I made a life together in Silicon Valley, we have felt lucky not only for what we have together, but also in the spec

We'll be seeing you...

We are putting one foot in front of the the other with as much energy and spirit as we can muster to get into some sort of a groovy rhythm. As we wait life out.  Entirely unsure of what to do and expect in the next moment...  Hope slippage sucks!   As usual, I use food to try to bring a little bit of joy into our life (a no no as per my fitness magazine).  The other day I made another French Yogurt Cake, the only cake I know that comes out in a half respectable way out of the oven... And for about a half hour, everyone was able to focus on the moist orangey cake in their mouths and talk of lovelier times.  Later that night when Mr. Urban and I were alone and he had reached for a bit of the cake, I asked him what he thought of it.  I wasn't sure if he had heard, but many minutes later, he said "it tastes like comfort".   And so it was that this afternoon my girl and I left for the farmers' market in the search of something comforting.  An hour later we came back wit

In the fairy tales we grew up on, life begins and ends in sweet gentle strokes. But in the reality of our post cancer world today, the end of life can approach in meaningless violent waves upon waves that renders all involved bewildered and nauseous. My heart goes out to anyone dealing with this devious disease. I had no idea of the extent of its sneakiness and malice. And still do not fully comprehend it. But as I stay awake this night, trying to bring into perspective the day that is behind us, and the day that is about to begin, my mind goes back again and again to the absurdity of money spent on fighting ideological battles that seem trivial compared to beating this mean and nasty disease that is being fought quietly and defenselessly in homes and bedrooms and hospital rooms and hospices around our world… I believe in meaningful and peaceful beginnings and ends. It is worth fighting for. And in the meanwhile, there is always the power of prayer…    Please consider making