Welcome, August

July was a fantastic month for me. I celebrated the 4th with dear friends, sangria, and karaoke. I spent a week at the beach with 22 (!) members of my family.  I celebrated a birthday. I purged, donated, packed, and moved my belongings into a new apartment with my beau. The calendar was full and bursting at the seams, and this time, I reveled in it instead of letting it overwhelm me. 

But, as the calendar flips and a new month begins, I want to set a few goals and intentions for this last month of summer. August will be a more relaxed month for me, a chance for me to slow down and reset. 

+ Watch quality TV (House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and Call the Midwife are on tap)
+ Take advantage of the fact that a library is a block away  (books & audio books, hurray!)
+ Schedule fun social activities, like brunch, coffee, or ice cream dates with friends
+ Organize my new planner for upcoming months 
+ Be more adventurous in my new kitchen, cook a few new recipes
+ Get outside for morning walks or evening walks after dinner 
+ Never turn down an opportunity for an ice cream cone 

Happy August, friends! 

{photo taken at the beach last month}

Forward

 I am a creature of comfort. Give me a routine or a tradition and I'm a happy girl. When something changes, it's hard for me to get back into the swing of things and feel at ease. But, this past year, I've been challenged in many ways to shake up my comforts, in big and small ways. What I realized is that I do better than expected when pushed beyond my comfort zone. 

Friendships are something I value greatly, and this year, several relationships have shifted for me. Aside from a 25 year friendship ending, I also experienced changes with a few good friends from work moving on to new jobs. But, that leaves room for new friendships, and I'm happy to report that I've been delighted with new friendships in these recent months. Whether it's finding like-minded people to connect with via blogs & Twitter, finding "couple friends" that my beau and I can spend time with, or a standing lunch/shopping/coffee date with some outstanding ladies, I've been richly blessed. It's wild to think that some of my strongest friendships are people I didn't know a year or two years ago. Making these friendships a priority is what has kept them growing stronger. 

I also moved in with my beau this past week, talk about a big life change! We've been together for many years and the actual transition has been smooth sailing, but packing up the apartment I've lived in for 6+ years was emotionally and physically exhausting. I found the process of packing and purging very therapeutic, but it was also quite nostalgic for a sensitive gal like myself. I had to stop myself from jokingly singing Sarah McLachlan's "I Will Remember You"(a la How I Met Your Mother) while going through boxes and doing everything for the last time. Also, I had been living with two fantastic roommates, so it did feel like the end of an era. 

But as our Uhaul pulled away, I focused on all that is to come, and found myself not feeling nostalgic at all. And being in one place and taking this adult step is fantastic. I could write an entirely separate blog with silly anecdotes as we get used to cohabitating, but it was a relief how easily it felt like home and exactly where I was supposed to be. 

Moving forward is a wonderfully inspiring and exciting thing, and I'm thrilled to have grown comfortable with taking steps outside of my comfort zone. In fact, I might have just walked straight into the zone that's the best of all.

Favorite Things

Fresh Sugar Rose Lip Treatment - I'd heard about this product for years, but didn't give it a whirl until Chic Week came along at Sephora. My oh my, this is one product that I will never be without. It has a fresh lemon scent, is super hydrating, and the sheer tint is so pretty without being overpowering.

Carrot Cake Luna Bar - I've shared my love of a quick breakfast/snack on-the-go before, and this new flavor of Luna Bar is my favorite. It's delicious, flavorful, and feels more indulgent than it is. 

Chobani Flip Key Lime Crumble - Speaking of things that feel more indulgent than they are, this yogurt. My roommate is a fan and let me try one, and I am currently obsessed. It's key lime flavored yogurt with graham cracker crumbles & white chocolate chips, and it's a desserty protein-packed delight. I recommend throwing on a few fresh raspberries for an extra treat.

Nashville - After my other TV shows ended for the summer, I decided to give Nashville a try via Hulu+. I zoomed through the 21 episodes in a matter of weeks, and was totally drawn in by the slightly soapy storylines, great music, and fun location. It's definitely been added to my list to keep watching and I'm looking forward to new episodes this fall.

Julep Cassie - This sheer coral nail polish is summer perfection. Not too bright for my fair complexion, it's essentially what I wanted Essie's Tart Deco to be. I'm heading off to the beach this weekend and will have this shade on both my fingers & toes.

The Language of Flowers - Every now and then, a book comes along that you devour in a matter of days and become totally wrapped up in. I read this book in just over 24 hours, and was totally captivated by Victoria's story.

Erin Condren Life Planner - It's no secret that I'm a type A list writer, and after a year of loving the Erin Condren planner I set out to find something a bit more affordable. I tried to give my new planner a go for 6 months, but when I saw EC had an 18 month option (July 2013 to December 2014), I had to order it. It should be arriving in a few weeks, and I am eagerly awaiting it. 

What have been some of your recent favorites?

Time to Bloom

 "And the time came when the risk it took to remain the bud 

was more painful than the risk it took to bloom." 

 -Anais Nin

Typically, I don't look forward to the arrival of spring. I'm one of those rare people that prefers cold temperatures and snow to warmth and summer, so when the calendar changes to April, I usually feel my energy draining a bit. But this year, there is something magical in the air.  

It all started when we changed the clocks a few weeks ago - all the sudden, it was light out on my drive home, and my apartment was filled with beautiful sunshine after a long work day. It made me feel like I'd gotten out of work early! Then, I got a pedicure with a few girlfriends, and afterward we sat outside in the warmth of the sun to enjoy coffee together. On my drive home (with the windows open, of course), I thought to myself, "Okay, spring. Maybe we'll be friends this year". 

The changing of seasons is such a beautiful thing - each one of them ushers in something fresh and new, and typically it's exactly what we need at the time. This spring, I feel like I was ready to ease out of my winter hibernation/introverted shell and bloom a bit. Maybe a bit tentatively at first, but each day, a bit more.

To me, this means that I'm going to be more appreciative of all of the light and love that surrounds me - my family, always just a car ride or Skype call away; my friends, who are there for me in the silliest moments and the most serious; and restorative time to myself, on a morning walk or reading with a cup of tea in bed. It means I'll spontaneously meet up with a friend without my planner showing me that's what's on tap for the afternoon. I'll open myself up to new opportunities and not stay content in my extremely comfortable comfort zone. I'll be a little more bold, a little more courageous.

I'll bloom a little, in my own way. Happy, happy spring.

Favorite Things: March 2013

David's Tea - Forever Nuts: I've been on a big hot tea kick recently, and my favorite is this unique herbal blend from David's Tea. It's a mix of nuts, apple pieces, and beet root, and the result is a lovely nutty flavor that is hot pink. I've recently started making a mug of tea every afternoon at work (in addition to my morning tea routine), and this has been the winner. 

Luna Bars: I'm an on-the-go person, especially for breakfast and snacks, so these bars have really been coming in handy recently. While I'm not proud that I'm usually so rushed in the morning I'm eating one of these in my car on the drive to work, I love that they are something I can feel good about snacking on. 

Spotify: I don't know why I resisted this phenomenal streaming music service so long. For a mere 10 bucks per month, you have access to every album there is, you can access them from your mobile devices, and make & share playlists. I've become familiar with some great new artists (Sea Wolf, Atlas Genius, Alex Winston) and also had an impromptu Wilson Phillips sing-along on the way home from work.

Scandal: One of my favorite activities in life is to binge-watch a TV show, and with the help of Netflix and Hulu+, I've gone through all of the Scandal episodes in the past month. It's compelling with a fantastic cast, and (slight spoiler alert) Scott Foley arrives during the second season, which made my Noel Crane loving heart go pitter-patter. 

Trader Joe's Crunchy Cookie Butter: The last time that I bought cookie butter I said "never again", because man, is that stuff good. I managed to go several months without repurchasing until I spied the crunchy variety on the shelf at my local Trader Joe's. Done and done. This is the best on toast, with apples, or (possibly my favorite way) on a spoon.

Naked Basics Palette: I'm certainly a nail polish and lipstick girl, but I've never gotten too into eyeshadow. My makeup bag has 2 tried-and-true little palettes from Wet & Wild, and not much else. But after hearing Ashley & Karin sing it's praises, I splurged on this neutral matte palette. It's right up my alley, because I can experiment a bit while still staying in neutral territory. 

After the Jump podcast: My friend Caiti first recommended this podcast to me, and I've been delighted with it ever since. It's hosted by Grace Bonney of Design*Sponge, and each week she interviews someone in the art & design world, or (my favorite) does a solo show on work/life balance and her career. 

What have you been loving this month?

BFF with Myself

This Valentine's Day, I'm surrounded by a lot of love. For starters, my beau and I will be doing our annual tradition of dinner at Chipotle (which is perfect for us). I also received a sweet package in the mail from my mom yesterday, and have been trading Valentine's greetings with friends all day. But, the relationship that I'm reflecting on the most today is my relationship with myself. 

Several months ago, a friendship ended with a person that I long considered to be my best friend. It wasn't my decision, but the best thing I could do for this person (and ultimately myself) was to just let it go. I've been on an emotional roller coaster about it since it happened, but the biggest struggle I faced was feeling lonely without my best friend, really feeling the void that this person had filled. In a way, it was like a break-up, but harder in a sense because it was with a person I'd known for 80% of my life. 

I was recently reading an interview with Mindy Kaling, who I adore, and the article touched on the subject of her mother's battle with cancer and their final words before she passed away. “I said to her, ‘Mom, I’m going to be so lonely without you. And she just said, ‘You have to be your own best friend. If you always remember that, you will always have someone there with you.’” 

Isn't that simple, yet so powerful? Our relationship with ourselves is truly the most important and fundamental one that we will ever embark on. We've got to do our best to truly love ourselves and give ourselves the priority, acceptance, and care that we give to others. I often find that I don't do this: I'll give great advice to others and not take it to heart myself, I won't realize when my stress level is sky high, and I am content just plodding along, day after day. 

Is the voice inside yourself saying kind things, as you'd say to a dear friend, or speaking harshly and negatively, the kinds of things you'd never say to anyone else? This week also is the beginning of Lent, and I've decided that instead of giving up something tangible, like cheese or shopping, that I will "give up" the negative self-talk and strive to be more aware of that inner voice.

I'm extremely blessed to have a loving family, an incredibly supportive boyfriend, and the dearest friends, both near and far. But the relationship that I'm most thankful for today is the one that I'm cultivating with myself. As Oscar Wilde says, it's the beginning of a lifelong romance.

{Image via Pinterest}

Creating Space

 

In this digital age of virtual calendars, to-do lists, and perpetually over-scheduling ourselves, it's so hard to allow ourselves room in our daily lives to just be. As an introvert, I often have to literally schedule unscheduled time for myself in my planner, but even then, packing our days and weekends full has just become the norm. I also tend to cherish unplanned moments to just have true downtime (i.e. reading, watching TV, taking a nap) and don't realize that filling those spaces with other restorative activities can have an even greater impact.

One morning last week I was facing a long day at work, the kind that typically made me want to hide under the covers until the last possible moment. But that morning, I decided to try something different. I got up earlier than normal (only about 30 minutes) and gave myself time to get ready without being in a hurry. I wasn't racing against the clock as I traveled to work, and even enjoyed listening to a new podcast (have you listened to Pop Culture Happy Hour yet? It's my new favorite).

And, a strange thing occurred -- I actually found myself in a terrific mood when I arrived at work, with more energy than usual. And with less sleep? It seemed a little backwards, but it led me to realize what other areas of my life could benefit from a little extra space. 

This past weekend, my beau & I found ourselves with a completely unscheduled Saturday. We headed out to Takoma Park, a neighboring little town with cute shops and spots for lunch. We planned on having lunch there, but after lunch, we decided to swing by a cafe just down the street for a hot beverage and a sweet treat. As we wandered in, we realized that it wasn't really a "to go" type place, so we decided to settle in and sip our drinks out of actual mugs. What a treat to not rush off somewhere! We sat & chatted, and afterward decided that coffee dates should be a part of our regular repertoire. 

What small changes, but what big impact on my daily life and mood. I hope to keep creating these little areas of space for myself, and am excited to see what fills them.