A Happy List

This week has been a doozy. I'm over the moon that Friday has finally arrived, and plan to fill my weekend with equal parts of fun, relaxation, and getting my ducks in a row. You can tell I'm having a busy week when a) yesterday's clothes are thrown on the chair, b) my bed is unmade for several days in a row, c) my nails are unpainted or (worse!) chipping, and d) my purse has become a graveyard for receipts. 

However, despite the busyness, there have been many things that have put a spring in my step this week. 

•  Slouchy boots on the cheap from Payless - comfortable, trendy, and affordable. Goodness knows I love a flat boot. I've already worn them twice this week, and I got them on Tuesday. 
• Oatmeal for breakfast - Since the weather has been getting cooler, I've been enjoying my favorite fall/winter start to the day. I love the way it warms me up and keeps me full until my usual late lunch. 
• Making Kraft macaroni & cheese for dinner - Sometimes, you have to give in to the cravings of comfort food. "Food for soul" is what I always say. 
• Sweater weather - I was thrilled to pull out my favorite heavy cardigan this morning and see my breath on the walk to the office.
• The new Florence & the Machine album, which is available to stream online. LOVE her, and this has unofficially become the soundtrack of my week. 

On the roster for the weekend is movie night with my beau, lunch & bookstore browsing with a terrific group of inspiring ladies, and a Beethoven piano concert at the French Embassy. Oh, and cleaning out my purse. 

What is on your happy list this week? 

{Image via Pinterest}

Finding Joy

Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy 

and keep choosing it every day.

Henri Nouwen

I remember a Christmas vacation back when I was 6 or 7 years old. The days off had passed so quickly and I was beside myself at the thought of returning to school. To me, the holidays had been gone in an instant, and seemingly faster than they had the previous year. As I lamented (i.e. threw a tantrum) to my mom, I remember her sharing that as you get older, time seems to just speed up. 

I'm certainly feeling that recently. Honestly, it seems that from July to this very moment has passed in the blink of an eye. I wrote last week about enjoying the moment, and have been trying to keep it in mind as I skitter between appointments and obligations. Instead of getting bogged down by weighty "life is passing me by" thoughts, recently I've been trying to do a few smaller things to appreciate the beauty surrounding me.

I love taking pictures. Armed with my iPhone camera and Canon PowerShot, I'm known to my friends and family as the historian/yearbook editor of their lives. I'm always the one saying "Now, just squeeze together for a quick picture..." and post albums to Facebook after every major (and sometimes minor) event. But, I found that while my photos were appreciated in their online capacity, nothing else ever happened with them. 

This past week, I sorted through all of my photos from this past year and picked around 50 that were my favorites. I got prints made of all of them, which was such a treat! I sent a few of them off in the mail to friends, assembled a collage of favorites on my boyfriend's fridge door, and refreshed the frames and ribbon board in my apartment. How wonderful to go throughout my normal routine and see the smiling faces and fun memories of recent months! And all of that for $10 and an hour or so of my time. 

I've also realized just how much time I spend watching mind-numbing television. Granted, there are some guilty pleasure shows (i.e. Gossip Girl) that I won't give up, but I've been trying to spend my "entertainment" hours with things of a higher caliber. Recently, my friends and I watched Dirty Dancing, which I'd never seen, and this past weekend I was introduced to the splendor of BCC's Pride and Prejudice mini-series. It's been so refreshing to catch up on classic movies/TV shows instead of watching Sister Wives or yet another rerun of How I Met Your Mother. 

Sometimes small things can make the biggest difference. What is a way you can press pause and enjoy your surroundings this week? 

{Image via Pinterest}

Blink & You'll Miss It

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back 

and realize they were the big things. 

Robert Brault

On my drive to work this morning, I realized that the leaves are already changing. This exact thing is what I look forward to every autumn, as I think the rich hues are absolutely stunning. But, those leaves are brilliant for just a brief moment before they fall to the ground and the trees are left bare for the winter. I found myself thinking "This weekend, I should plan an activity where I can really enjoy the changing leaves." But then, I caught myself. Why couldn't I enjoy them now, on a random Monday morning, at the start of a hectic week? And, all told, isn't that better than "scheduling" time to appreciate or enjoy something? Aren't the best moments those that just... happen? 

The rest of my drive, I allowed myself to turn off the portion of my brain that was already at work & drafting e-mails, and tuned in to what I was seeing. Vibrant bursts of red and mustard yellow peppering the green leaves, cars zipping along to their next destination, the warmth of the cozy scarf around my neck. This is it, you know? This is life. 

This weekend, I was blessed with many of those cozy, happy moments. 

• singing along to the Beatles while stuck in traffic with my beau
• savoring a latte while getting to know a new friend 
• finally watching Dirty Dancing for the first time and swooning over Johnny Castle
• making my mom's tortellini soup & realizing it tastes just the same as I remember
• stopping by a roadside stand to buy a bag of mini pumpkins

Happy, happy Monday. 

{Image via Pinterest}

Frozen Yogurt, Skype, & Sharpies

 Stuff your eyes with wonder, live as if you'd drop dead in ten seconds. See the world. It's more fantastic than any dream made or paid for in factories.

Ray Bradbury

Here are a few things I'm loving recently, that are helping make this week shine a little brighter: 

• Essie's Merino Cool nail polish (the perfect mix of gray + lavender)
• A mid-afternoon break to get pumpkin pie frozen yogurt, complete with peanut butter cups & Cap'n Crunch cereal as toppings
• Skype video chats with my Mom in Ohio
• Sharpie pens (seriously, they are the far superior pen in my opinion)
• The Wonder Years, which is now available on Netflix Instant ("get by with a little help from my friends")
• Words with Friends - does anyone play? I swear it's helping my vocabulary.
• The cozy sweater dress I found at Nordstrom Rack for $20
• Katy Perry's song "E.T.", which I originally hated and now have on repeat (k-k-kiss me)

What are you loving this week? 

{Photo via Pinterest} 

Brunch & New Friends

When you follow your bliss, doors will open where you would not have thought there would be doors; and where there wouldn’t be a door for anyone else.
Joseph Campbell

As you know, I'm new to this whole blogging thing. Very new. I really, truly appreciate those of you who have begun this new journey with me. Though actually writing blog posts is a new venture for me, reading blogs have been a part of my daily life for years. I love finding a new blog where I just instantly connect with the author & want to carve out time to read through the archives. 

Shortly before I started my blog, I found one of those instantly connected blogs in Ashley of That Is All. Her love of nail polish, The Happiness Project, and positive & peppy spirit immediately made me realize I'd found a kindred spirit. How wonderful that she also lived in the DC area! Finding her blog was a wonderful nudge to start my own, an idea I'd been toying with for over a year. 

About a week after I'd started my blog, Ashley posted that she was hosting a blogger brunch in Alexandria, a chance for local bloggers to meet in person. Even though I truly think I had published all of 2 blog posts at that time, I took the leap and e-mailed Ashley to RSVP. Even though I barely consider myself a "blogger", I figured now was a fine time to jump in with both feet. 

I'd be lying if I said there weren't butterflies in my stomach as I navigated Alexandria's brick sidewalks on the way to meet Ashley and the other girls. Some of these girls had been blogging for 10 years, and I had 10 (well, make that 11) posts on my blog. Would they think I was foolish for lumping myself in the same group as them? What would I have to contribute to the conversation? And, most importantly, was I wearing the right outfit? 

I was put immediately at ease when I sat down at the table. What followed was 2 hours of laughing, bonding, picture-taking, and connecting with a very full table of lovely ladies that I can now truly call friends. I felt inspired, at ease, and relieved to meet a group of women with whom I had so much in common. 

Because, you know what? It's HARD to make friends when you're in your late 20's/early 30's. I've been blessed to have a wonderful network of friends since moving to DC six years ago, but there was just something so refreshing about joining a table of strangers and leaving knowing that I had expanded my network, forged true connections with new friends, and fostered new confidence within myself that where I am right now is where I need to be. 

Without further adieu, here are links to the blogs of the fantastic women I met. Add them to your Google Reader. You won't be sorry. 

• Ashley @ That Is All
• Becky @ Love Everyday Life
• Karin @ What The Font
• Lauren @ Enchanting
• Lisa @ Hello Suburbia 
• Rachel @ Funnel Cloud
• Sarah @ sunny side up
• Tessica @ I Fly Like A Bird

{Photos courtesy of Ashley}

Solitude, Friendship, & Chicken

  

It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after your own; but a great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson 

This weekend, though quite short (aren't they all?) was near perfect. It held equal parts of solitude, time with dear friends and new friends, and productive time to take care of errands and tackle projects. Sandwiched between busier weekends and hectic work weeks, it was just what the doctor ordered. 

 

Friday evening I had a much needed solo night at my apartment. I threw together a random "dinner" based upon what was in the fridge, lit a bunch of tea lights, and caught up on last week's episode of Parenthood. Fueled a bit of relaxation, I was then able to do a bit of cleaning and organizing around the apartment, which I'd been putting off. 

  

Saturday began with sleeping until I naturally woke up, which in my opinion is one of the best things in the world. I am NOT a morning person, and a snooze-button-aholic, so the opportunity to stay put in bed until I was ready to emerge was a real treat. Saturday night, M & I met up with some friends for Indian food and then went to see the movie Drive. While not my typical fare and a little gruesome in parts, it was a very well done movie & Ryan Gosling is a hunky dreamboat. 

 

Sunday, I put on my brave face and headed to Alexandria to meet up with a bunch of fellow bloggers for a brunch. It's funny for me to say "fellow", since I'm so very new to blogging, but this lovely bunch of girls welcomed me with open arms. Though I didn't know anyone (aside from through their blogs) before walking in, as I walked back to my car, I couldn't help but reflect how comfortable it was to be in the presence of such creative, friendly, and like-minded women. Major thanks to Ashley for coordinating. I'll do a post later this week sharing a few photos from brunch & sharing more about the girls who attended.  

  

Sunday evening, as promised, I roasted my first chicken.  I took Chelsea's advice and tried the "beer butt chicken" method. While a bit unorthodox, it was absolutely DELICIOUS. We also roasted carrots, red potatoes, and an acorn squash. It was so lovely to put everything in the oven, clean up the kitchen, and have some time to read while the apartment filled with delicious smells. And, this is a great example of why having a blog is so important -- I posted it as a goal at the beginning of last week, heard feedback from you lovely folks, and actually accomplished it by week's end. 

  

Wishing you all a fantastic start of the week. 

How do you refuel?

I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel.

- Audrey Hepburn

You guys, I'm exhausted. These past two weeks I've really been burning the candle at both ends. Long days at work, lots of social plans, and an out of town wedding. It's all been lovely, but I'm drained. The introvert in me needs a good dose of quiet, alone time to refuel and get back on track. Lucky for me, this weekend is largely unscheduled and allows for plenty of time to refuel, but also has a few fun things sprinkled in.

As I finish up the work day with Pandora's Bon Iver station playing in the background, I look forward to heading home, lighting a few tea lights, and crawling into bed to watch an episode or 2 of Felicity. I happen to own the whole series, but did you know that it's available on Netflix instant now? 

Here are some of my favorite introverted activities to refuel: 

• Comfort food - I had Pad Thai with tofu for lunch, and it hit the spot 
• Nap or extremely early bedtime 
• Reorganizing a cluttered area in your home (i.e. desk or vanity)
• Losing yourself in a good book 
• Mini-marathon of a favorite TV show 
• Bubble bath or long, hot shower 
• Listening to your favorite album or podcast in a dark, quiet room 
• Going to Target and wandering around with no time schedule 
• Paint my nails 

What do you do to refuel? 

This weekend, I look forward to indulging in some of the activities listed above, but also have fun plans with a few dear friends + my boyfriend on Saturday night, and brunch with the fantastic Ashley as well as some other new friends on Sunday. And Sunday night? I just might roast that chicken.

{Image via Pinterest}