
As a rule, birthday money should always be used to buy something special that you very much want, but don’t actually need. So with that in mind, I finally ordered a Moop Market Bag for myself, using some belated birthday dollars. The bag arrived last week, wrapped in brown kraft paper with a little handwritten note, “Thanks for your order, Lillian! I hope you enjoy!”
It’s beautiful. Big and roomy with a long adjustable straps and large inside pockets. Perfect for carrying wallet and laptop and things–or for a trip to the farmer’s market! The fabric is the rosewood red cord, which is just right for autumn.
Moop is a lovely little company that offers an assortment of bags that are each made-to-order in their little Pittsburgh studio. I love all the designs, the details, and the story that they tell.
PS I also still love the handmade leather bag that I bought last year from The Leather Shop!

Thursday, October 8, 2009
This post is part of a series about my favorite places and things that have made Los Angeles feel like my home for the past 2+ years.
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Just over two years ago, I tried yoga for the first time, starting at YogaWorks in Larchmont Village. I loved the practice, can’t say enough. Until then, I never really loved any kind of weekly physical exercise. So first thank you, Los Angeles, for that.
Then last year, a coworker introduced me to Brian Kest’s Power Yoga in Santa Monica. From the first class at Power Yoga, I was totally hooked. It is a sweaty, intense, awesome workout that made my body ache in the best way–and cleared my mind in the process. Their classes are scheduled at all hours of the day and night. (Plus, they run by donation, so you can get your yoga on regardless of your budget.)
So thank you Los Angeles–for being home to this studio that stretched my body and mind and for my favorite classes with Anaswara and for George, the friendly, bearded gentleman who maintains the studio on Santa Monica Blvd.
I went to a class there last night and sadly realized it may be one of my last. Luckily, I’ve already been scouting out new yoga studios in San Francisco. First on my list: Yoga to the People. If you have any ideas, please share!


View from the road. Driving north on Route 5 last weekend for my last “just visiting” trip to San Francisco.
A new website for a new city adventure! In the next three weeks, I will be packing my life into cardboard boxes, saying fond farewells to sunny Los Angeles, driving a huge moving truck up Route 5–and then moving into a bright new studio apartment in the sometimes sunny, often foggy, always charming city of San Francisco! I am pretty much bursting with excitement.
Along with this big change of address, I’m also starting some new projects that I’ve been working towards and dreaming about for a long time now.
First, there’s this creative studio business (check it out! lilliandignan.com), which is going to rock the world of small businesses in the biggest and smallest and sweetest ways.
Next, stay tuned for a little online shop of cards and prints and creations of mine…
There is a world of possibility that’s unfolding.
Listening to: Tell Me Something Good by Chaka Kahn (listen)
Allison and I had a single-song dance party in our kitchen last night while listening to this classic.

today is my 25th birthday. 25! the sound of that makes me feel both old (my early twenties have ended!) and young (whenever i mention my age to anyone over 30)–but mostly i’m energized, excited, happy.
ten years before i was born, in 1974, my parents and my aunt phyllie left Massachusetts in a rust-colored VW bug and headed west to California. i love this photo of them standing in my grandma’s driveway just before they hit the road. excited and anxious and (i imagine they’d say) totally naive about what they were jumping into…
i’m excited about the adventures and unknowns that are coming this year.
cheers to living it up!
:: photo of dad, mom, and phyllie. heading west. 1974

