currently listening

I have a handful of songs I've been listening to repeatedly over the last few weeks... mostly thanks to Spotify's Discover Weekly feature. If you have Spotify, be sure to check that out. It gives you a new playlist every week based on what you have listened to previously. I have found some really great gems there. (You can find Discover Weekly under Browse). 

On to the music!

Tori Kelly - Hollow

Christina Grimmie - Hold On, We're Going Home (cover)

Daughter - Medicine

Jessie Ware - Say You Love Me

Matthew Koma - Suitcase

Enjoy! xo

currently :: 013

1.  a friend bought me this! best surprise.

2. it's a month filled with both birth and death, which has been strange. my friend ashley gave birth to her first beautiful baby boy this week. i also had to attend a memorial service for my friend's mom, who will be greatly missed. happy + sad extremes.

3. i need to get cracking on christmas shopping. every year i wait until black friday/cyber monday and do it all at once (because hello, deals). but then i get calls from my credit card company asking me if i've had my identity stolen because who would spend $300 on Old Navy sweaters? yeahhhh.

4.  every few months i have a dinner date with a good friend that i don't see super often. we always go to Bonefish and stay there until like 11 PM. i am so looking forward to that. there's nothing like a good, long chat with your girlfriends.

5. can someone explain this november weather to me? sometimes it's warm, sometimes it's so not. HELP.

6.  a PSA to everyone who cares about the Starbucks cups: you need to find a hobby or something.

7.  my favorite coffee shop has this maple latte that is soooo good. they make up special drinks every month and they are always delicious. plus every time i'm at the register, i'm tempted to buy a bacon-filled chocolate bar. WIN.

8. speaking of maple flavors-- these KIND bars. yum!

9. i need boots. specifically, black-maybe suede-everyday-casual but cute-can go with a lot of things boots. (i'm starting to understand why men think we are complicated.)

10. my favorite book has been made into a movie. i am scared to see it... after reading this book countless times over the past 14 years (woah), i have such a clear vision of the characters as i see them in my mind. the movie will probably ruin that. side note: i have read all of her novels and she is my favorite. give it a try! (start with the Big Stone Gap series.)

change.

 image via google

if you know me, you know that i hate change. it's a tough thing for me to grasp, life moving on when i have no say in it. i know that change is good for us and allows us to grow, but i wish i had more warning sometimes.

these past few months have been challenging. i am getting excited for the end of this year. some good things have happened to me, yes, but 2015 had a messy start. it didn't set the tone well for the rest of it, and i've had a hard time shaking that off. i am sincerely hoping that 2016 brings good things. or at least a happy beginning.

i'm big on reflection; i like to look back and see what my experiences have been over the past months or year. this is why i journal, although not nearly as often as i used to. if you're wondering what has been keeping me from this blog for the past couple of months, it's a combination of things. lack of wanting to write combined with laziness. feeling like i have nothing good to say. struggling with expression and not wanting to sound mundane.

and then there are the actual life events that keep me from coming back here. can we be honest for a minute? life gets really hard in a way that is difficult to explain to anyone. i have anxiety that i can't stop. i have sleepless nights where i  incessantly think about my past, present, and future. i need help but i fool myself into thinking that because i am a christian, relying on God should be enough to fix me. (spoiler alert: sometimes you just need extra, physical help and there is nothing wrong with that.) and i am deeply affected by what happens around me: a friend's mother unexpectedly dying, my own mother's struggle with mental illness, relationships that can't and don't work out. lots of heaviness.

i'm sorry if it sounds like i'm complaining and have become the most negative person in the world. not every day is awful. circumstances just have a way of sneaking up at the same time and splitting me into little pieces, each struggling for a different reason. "this too shall pass" used to be a mantra for me, but there are certain situations that will not go away quickly and are not bound to be resolved for a long time. that's probably the hardest part. when there is no end in sight, how do you get past it? 

anyway, i wanted to come back to this space and start being present here again. don't worry, the future posts won't all be like this. in fact, there is a lot of good among the difficult right now. i have supportive friends and overall, a great life. i am happy. i am also trying to keep my head above water. if you're also having a hard time right now, give a listen to this song. it's been playing nonstop for me and helps keep me grounded.

changes

 

image via google

That phrase is something Laura and I have started saying regularly... and often in a silly way just to laugh ("burritos, am i right?!"). If nothing else, it puts a bright spot in the day. Say it to yourself today, I guarantee it will make you feel better!

In other news. change is my middle name these days. It's basically covering all the bases of my life: 

1. Home: Laura went and got herself a boyfriend! He's great and nice and I was already friends with him, so I approve. So excited for them! Heart eyes for days.

 2. Work: I am switching teams at work. At first I was not particularly thrilled seeing as this is the first time in a year that I've actually enjoyed my job and I finally have a decent manager, but then she told us she was leaving the team too, so... bring it on.

 3. Church: We made the announcement yesterday that my church is closing its doors at the end of September. This is necessary but really not the easiest thing. I've been the worship leader there for the past five years. I will miss my team and the community.

4.  Friends: A lot of my friends are moving away. Texas, England, Hawaii... I'm happy for all of their exciting opportunities but why do they all have to leave me?!

They say life is never-ending learning experience... I'm certainly being tested on that lately. 

currently :: 012

image via weheartit

lots of things happening in life lately:

< thunderstorms. particularly one that i drove thorough that felt like a scene from Twister.

> $6.50 movies on Tuesdays. one of the best kept secrets in this town.

< plans on plans on plans on plans. so many plans.

> no sleeping. that's definitely not happening!

< buying my friends baby shower gifts. two of them are getting ready to have babies soon!

> watching Jurassic Park and kind of wishing that was real... without being eaten by a dino. also, when i was in Hawaii, we boat-toured around the Na Pali coast where it was filmed. awesome.

< looking forward to some traveling: Philly, the beach, and Vegas are coming up.

> sending Laura tons of Buzzfeeds that make me think of her. that site is such a timesuck.

< dealing with some rough things and choices to make, but weathering the storm as best i know how. 

>  feeling very thankful for a job that i like going to every day and coworkers who i am getting to know better.

< playing around with some covers-- Elastic Heart is my new favorite. (listen on my Instagram!)

> visiting my best friend Dan, my godson, and his new baby brother. holding my friend's babies never gets old.

< spending too much money these days. i always have a month once in a blue moon where i just keep buying things. they are things i will use and like, but it's still a bad habit!

> speaking of... in love with my latest Kate Spade. no regrets.i also got it for less than it's showing now!

< i rearranged my room last week. it feels so refreshing. i brought my desk up from the basement because my gorgeous iMac wasn't getting any love with nowhere to put it. i'm proud of moving it all by myself, but the bruises on my legs and arms aren't so pretty.

> the bikini top struggle is real. A-club for life and it's equal parts great and terrible.

< bonfires out in farmland at Brooke and Bob's. their goats always greet me and i love it.

> watching all the season 4 episodes of The Hills before they disappear from MTV OnDemand. (it's time well spent, trust me.)

< when i feel strongly that i need a puppy, i go here and play with them. my friend's sister is the manager, so that helps!

until next time!

hey, hi, hello

In case you were wondering, here's what I've been up to lately:

1. Still trying to get through Grey's Anatomy for the first time on Netflix. Currently on season 8... it's happening!

2. You know life is good when you are forced to plan time to pick up a book at the library and get your car's oil changed because you are so busy.

3.  Speaking of busy: I have a get together tonight with some of my best friends, then a beer festival Saturday with the girls, which I am so excited for. And a sleepover! I love that I can still do that even at 28.(Or maybe I'm just lame. If that's the case, I don't want to know.)

4. I visited a friend yesterday and held her sweet newborn baby girl... I will never get tired of holding my friends' babies. Ever.

5. I'm going "camping" (I use that term loosely) next weekend at Assateague, and upon texting what I need to bring with my roommate, I said, "My essentials are more like a melted pint of Ben & Jerry's and a giant inner tube painted like a donut." Truer words have never been spoken:

I rest my case.

6.  I'm learning some fun songs on my ukelele. The good news is that it sounds great! The bad news is that I only play in one key because my voice happens to love it. So... get ready to hear a lot of C F Am G. And possibly some Ke$ha.

7. I think my appreciation of the man bun is turning into an obsession. I see them EVERYWHERE. But I'm not complaining!

8. I miss Hawaii.

9. I've been listening to Bad Blood on a loop. I finally watched the video and I felt like the whole entire thing was just introductions of characters and by the end, I had no idea how they all connected. Are some heroes? Are some villians? Doesn't that black leather get uncomfortable while you're doing karate moves? And who came up with all those names? (I'm sure Taylor did.)

10. Finally, music. These are the two I've been playing a ton in the car... windows down, volume way too loud and obnoxious:

I've always loved Gucci Gucci since my friend Sarah played it for me and I thought it was hilarious. Some might say I have terrible taste in music based on these two songs, but I love them and I regret nothing!

Have a good weekend!

currently :: 011

life's like this.

<< dark chocolate Bissinger's bunny ears
>> epic Jenga battle (so stressful)
<< building the annual Plath lamb cake
 >> our gutted bathroom going through a remodel
<< good old war :: in the crowd/on stage
>> a favorite photo from a dear friend's wedding, c/o Tara Peddicord Photography


and:

<< listening to the latest Sufjan album. holy goodness.
>> getting excited for fun spring/summer activities! (Hawaii, USMNT games, being outdoors and not freezing)
<< monday night women's group with my church. such a good time. we are going through the Jennie Allen "Restless" study. i recommend it!

currently :: 010

<< spring is coming! hello sunshine.

>> a lot of babies are being born this week! i know of four right now.

<< our bathroom is getting demolished and i am working from home listening to it. it sounds terrifying... our smoke detector just flew off the wall and down the stairs from all the hammering. haha!

>> going to see Wicked at the Hippodrome tonight! it's one of my favorite shows musically, but i've never actually seen it! so it's an epic night for me.

<< getting equally excited and nervous to cut my hair in a couple of weeks. i'm doing my usual hair donation but this time keeping it shorter and maintaining with a little bit of color! (eek!)

>> had an awful stomach bug on saturday that completely destroyed me. i'm still not eating enough and have no desire to eat anything but healthy food. just the thought of junk food is too much. i guess that's a good thing? it was like a cleanse. a terrible, sickening, disgusting cleanse.

<< excited to go to Laura's mom's house for Easter. we are going to lounge around and do nothing. and make her family's traditional cake that looks like a lamb. my cake decorating skills are going to be interesting!

>> i got to go to my friend's wedding dress fitting the other day, and it made me so excited for her wedding. i can't wait! i love being a part of my friends' special days.

<< confession: i think the kardashians are hilarious. i'm watching an episode where bruce comes to pick up kris for a doctor's appointment and she is wearing a Yeezus Tour jacket and he thinks it says "Jesus" and is super confused about it. lol

>> the lavender-vanilla latte from Atwater's is so good.

<< our Hawaii trip is happening in a month and eight days! AHHH! we just made a reservation to zip line and it's going to be so cool. i'll probably scream the whole time like i do on roller coasters, even though i like them.

>> seeing Good Old War tomorrow and it's going to be amazing. every time i see them, i leave feeling so wonderful.

currently :: 009

image via weheartit

:: crazy excitement for spring. winter has been so very long.

:: going to see Twin Forks tonight. And to berate Chris Carabba with a story about how we have a mutual friend and we were supposed to hang out with Chris the last time we were in Florida but he was covered in bee stings (true).

:: dealing with my mother's issues.

:: coffee date Saturday morning, Shake Shack plans Saturday night. my kind of day!

:: apparently we need to start watching Dig, according to my roommate's mom.

:: i'm just going to accept the fact that my closet will never be uncluttered.

:: i got to visit with a friend from England that i love and miss! 

:: 10 years late, i started watching Grey's Anatomy on Netflix. of course i love it, and wish i had started a decade ago.

:: loved having a mid-morning coffee date with my friend Sarah when i was working from home this week. Atwater's is my new go-to. 

:: trying to spend more time praying and less time worrying. it's funny how the bible says "do not worry", yet that feeling is something that we will always have inside of us as humans. there's no getting rid of it, but we can contain it.

And lastly:

:: this article. 

Laura and i had a field day with this one. we said we are going to start a revolution and call it CDFA-- Casual Dating for All ;) our motto is "Date whoever you want, whenever you want." mission statement: "CDFA strives to start the walk toward marriage by, you know, dating people." We joke, but really, there is such a weird stigma in Christian churches about dating and the "right" way to do it. i personally know people who are so focused on marriage and meeting the right person that they lose out on relationships because of pressure. pressure that the church puts on them, and that they put on themselves. PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: dating is not a sin, and dating is the only way you will find out if you are compatible enough with a person for marriage. let marriage be your goal, not your obsession and immediate "make it or break it". also, guys of the church who are almost 30: stop dating 20 year olds. it's not easy for us single 28-ers to watch you do that. at least we solved the mystery of why there are no single guys, though...

a very merry galentine's day

Valentine's is always Galentine's for me:

 

Right you are, Leslie! As someone with an absurd amount of lovely girlfriends, I always celebrate Galentine's Day. This year, it was a girl's dinner and hanging out with friends (dudes were allowed) at my best friend's house. And my favorite... brunch!

I used to do this thing where I wore tights with hearts to work every year, since February is cold. That phase has passed. Now it's obnoxiously great sweaters (my best friend gives the most amazing gifts)!

My friend Krista passed this muffin recipe on to me, and seeing as it's made with Greek yogurt and oats, I knew I would love it. Give it a try! You must add chocolate chips though, no matter how healthy you're trying to be. Mandatory!

 

My bestie made me this monogrammed  iPhone background with the Monogram app. If you couldn't tell by this and the sweater... she knows me very well.

 

We had Galentine's drinks! I'm ashamed to admit this was just at Applebees. We were starving and desperate. So starving that we all ordered insane burgers (triple bacon for me, oops. And something called a Cowboy Burger).

Ah, the pièce de résistance! Everyone knows I am a brunch lover. It's become 60% of my Instagrams. Victoria's does brunch so well. My friend Tresa spent the night and we headed to brunch so hungry and ready to conquer. Here's the list:

1. Duck fat fries. A must have at Victoria's, even for breakfast.

2. Mimosas.

3. Coffee.

4. Banana nut french toast and mascarpone/blackberry stuffed french toast.

5. Sausage and bacon.

We. Were. So. Full. WORTH IT. I laid on the couch the rest of the day and didn't even feel bad about it. A Galentine's well spent! Hope your Valentine's/Galentine's was lovely as well!

things that have been happening

Monday brunch at Iron Rooster (the pop tart hype is for real):

Re-living Jude's bachelorette.

Transforming Laura into a plaid mermaid named Bubbles.

Moving into a new office cube and putting that Kate Spade wrapping paper to good use.

And... planning a trip to Hawaii in May! I haven't been on a proper vacation since 2010. I cannot wait for a week on an island. I'm coming back with coffee, a ukulele, a tan, and who knows what else.

currently :: 008

 

:: reminiscing over jude's wedding photos. (this is one of my favorites. isn't she dreamy? it was so fun getting to be a woodland nymph for a day. and i can't wait to re-wear that crazy dress this summer.)

:: making poached eggs in the microwave. i suck at making them on the stove, and they turn out just as good this way! (recipe: 1/3 cup water in an 8 oz, small, round tupperware container. crack the egg into the water and microwave for 45 seconds. carefully pour into a slotted spoon to drain the water from the egg. place on a toasted english muffin! i drizzle honey mustard and hot sauce over mine.)

:: repeating this verse over and over through major stress: "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." - Deuteronomy 31:8.

:: getting back to my friend's spin class after a brief hiatus. love that type of cardio... she plays the best music!

:: late monday nights watching The Bachelor when Laura gets home from her grad class. it's a thing.

:: packing up my office cube (didn't i just move into it three months ago?!) to move to a building across the parking lot. so long, quiet space.

:: these "snow days" are a joke. sure, kids have off school, but the roads are clear and i have to go to work. sigh. envying my teacher friends right now.

::  my friend Brooke and i watched the Grumpy Cat christmas movie the other day. it was equal parts awesome and awful.

:: my other roommate is stuck in New York with the blizzard. she might make it home in the next month or so.

:: melatonin is my best friend at bedtime as of late.

:: wearing an oversize, cable-knit men's sweater from j. crew from like five years ago. and i still love it. (never giving it up.)

:: feeling thankful for friends who are there for me and pray during tough times. and a roommate who brings me surprise buffalo wings to cheer me up. (i cried at the sight of those buffalo wings, no joke.)

currently :: 007

Life has been hectic recently and I may not be posting much this week. But here's a little something to hold you over:

1. Roommate times at our friend's Christmas party (9th year in a row!)
2. Beer flight from White Oak Tavern.
3. Dinner with the family while my brother was in town from Colorado.
4. Organic hot chocolate with a splash of peppermint schnapps.
5. Evie in the fleece heart suit that I bought her... isn't she the cutest?! She's stroller-ing around England with her parents right now :) 
6. Our third roommate gifted me and Laura some amazing hand cream from C&E.... this stuff is so good. It leaves my hands feeling silky, not greasy, so I can type at work without my keyboard becoming a mess. I have it in Pomegranate too!

currently :: 006

 

^ loving this necklace that Laura gave me for Christmas. how pretty is that?!

^ wading around the amounts of (unwrapped) gifts in my bedroom. must take care of that.

^ missing friends that don't live here anymore (Zack & Emily, if you read this... move back please!)

^ realizing that being an adult means remembering to water the Christmas tree twice a day.

^ drinking chocolate mint tea in the afternoons.

^ watching the final season of LOST! our lives will be so empty after it's over.

^ spending time with my brother before he leaves tomorrow.

^ listening to the Evergreen album over and over.

^ not giving in to buying a Kindle and checking books out of the library. (forever.)

^ sushi dates and fortunes that make no sense.

^ ordering prints from Instantly Framed. it makes an amazing gift and they ship so quickly.

^ finally giving Laura her Christmas gift of Taylor Swift tickets and not having to keep it a secret anymore!

^ snuggling under the knit *NSync blanket that I found in the closet of my childhood bedroom. (judge me.)

^ re-watching favorite episodes of The O.C. with my brother while he's in town. the pilot & Chrismakkuh are the best. also, playing lots of NBA Jam on super nintendo as per tradition.

^ collecting the little sprigs that fall off the Christmas tree and placing them decoratively around the house.

^ chronically forgetting to put my new registration stickers on my car (oops).

^  feeling thankful for good times in the midst of some stress.

currently :: 005

1. Sweet chai and my favorite sweater this year. Ultimate coziness!
2. Blurriest picture ever of me and my corgi puphew.
3. Annual best friend viewing of The Holiday, complete with snacks, wine, leggings, and endless quoting of our favorite lines. I look forward to this every year.
4. This is what grad school looks like in your late twenties. Complete panic ;)
5. My best friend found this sweater and picked it up for me... it screams my name if you know me at all! I may or may not have seen this exact sweater on Cory's teenage daughter in an episode of Girl Meets World.

Okay, fine. Proof:

 image via google

No regrets.

Plus, skinny peppermint mocha. YUM.

today is a good day.

photo via weheartit

 

I don't know about you, but I often have moments where I go through life not feeling bad, but not feeling great. Just... indifferent, I guess. I don't think anyone feels joyfully happy 100% of the time (wouldn't that be nice), but today I feel closer to it. If you know me, you know that I find joy in the smallest things that life has to offer. I'm learning to look for them as much as possible these days. 

 

Today is a good day because:

 

<  i had a Starbucks peppermint mocha first thing.

> i have lots of work keeping me busy (i hate being idle at work).

< i'm dreaming of owning a French Bulldog pup one day. i still miss my Misty so much it hurts, and no pup could ever replace her, but a house just feels empty to me without a little dog running around.

> i've been carrying around "To Kill a Mockingbird" in my purse.

< i heard Straight No Chaser's 12 Days of Christmas medley on the radio.

> i've been reading a lot of artistic blogs in my downtime at work. so inspiring.

< a friend texted to tell me my Christmas present arrived and she's excited to give it to me. :)

> the sun is shining (goodbye, rain!)

< today is my off day from working out, haha! it's nice to relax.

> i've been singing Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One" in the car a lot. it's a fun vocal!

< i got an unexpected amount of money from my grandma in her Christmas card.

> my hair goes into a bun easily. thank you, genetics.

< every time i walk into my Christmas-y house, i'm greeted by white lights everywhere. lovely.

 

Take a minute today to make your own list of the small, good things in your life!

currently :: 004

image via weheartit

> trying to figure out what the password to my work voicemail is. (no idea.)
> drinking copious amounts of ginger and lemon tea.
> getting excited over finding a bag of spinach/kale blend at the grocery store.
> we're going Christmas tree shopping on Sunday!
> twinkle lights and glass snowflakes in our front window.
> kind of looking forward to the Victoria's Secret fashion show because T. Swift is performing.
> i did Black Friday shopping online at Sephora and received a ton of free samples. i love!
> i bought a dress for New Year's, which i will be spending with my best friend. can't wait.
> when it's cold outside and i'm lounging on the couch, i want nothing more but a puppy in my lap.
> seeing Chadwick Stokes (from Dispatch!) tonight... yaaaaasssss.
> listening to 1989 anytime i drive anywhere.
> my brother is coming home from Colorado in a couple of weeks, yay!
> my long hair is super annoying right now. i might try to donate a year early...
> December = Christmas parties and snow and a thousand presents to wrap and busy.
> i've worn snowflake leggings and a men's henley waffle shirt to bed every night. insane comfort.
> my favorite local bar ran out of their pumpkin brew early this year. so sad.
> trying to decide between a mandolin or ukelele for Christmas. it's just too hard.
> listening to my favorite Christmas album of all time, NSync. some things never change.

featured :: Seasons 52

Last Friday when I was at the mall stocking up on LUSH products, my friend Elizabeth and I met up with her boyfriend to get dinner. At first we chose PF Changs, a delicious favorite of ours, but it was an hour wait and we were starving. So we headed over to the brand new Seasons 52 to see what the deal was. They were packed as well, but we were able to stalk some people who were leaving and snag a table in the bar area. (Apologies to the nice old man and his wife who I hovered by for the last few minutes before we took your table...)

 

I'm not a professional restaurant critic or anything, but I do tend to get very critical of food and service when I'm in a new and nice restaurant. I have high expectations! Seasons 52 is cool right off the bat because they change their menu often and keep it seasonal. Honestly, everything looked really amazing and we all had a hard time choosing. Elizabeth is gluten free and she was happy that they had a specific menu for that.

 

This restaurant is fun in that it's more upscale than your average place, but not so overly fancy that we couldn't go there in jeans after a day of shopping. I always enjoy places that make me feel like I'm in a restaurant I can't afford but I really can ;) Price wise, it's on par with what I would expect fresh, well prepared, seasonal food to be worth. I wasn't shocked by it, nor did I mind the amount I spent. Plus, they had a pianist and singer doing background music, which you know I was all about.

 

On to the food! I didn't get a cocktail this time, but E started with a mango jalepeno drink that was really good. I had a sip and while I don't typically like spice in drinks, it wasn't overwhelming and I liked it. There was a big debate over whether or not we should get the mushroom soup that our waiter recommended we share, but we didn't in the end. Next time I want to try it! Speaking of our waiter, he was attentive and basically knew everything on the menu by heart. I almost wanted to test him on it but decided that wasn't good dining etiquette. ;)

 

I ordered the scallops and risotto, as you see above. Ohhhh man. I love a good scallop and risotto is a favorite of mine to order because I never make it at home. I would have killed for a bowl of that alone! It was delicious and perfectly cooked. The scallops were seasoned really well and tasted just as scallops should... light and refreshing. The veggies were crisp and not overcooked or soggy. (PS - you get five scallops with this dish... I got overzealous and ate one before the picture taking!) E got the same dish as I did, but her boyfriend got the swordfish, which was one of the recommendations from our waiter. He said it was really great and enjoyed it a lot.

 

Overall, this is a great place to meet up with friends for drinks and appetizers (we missed happy hour by 30 minutes, it was sad), a perfect place for a date night, or a fun choice to celebrate something. Someone had a birthday or anniversary while we were there, and the dessert they brought out looked ah-mazing. (Hint hint to all my friends when July rolls around...) If there's a Seasons 52 near you, plan a night out and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

currently :: 003

× watching the new T. Swift video and wondering if she really feels that destructive at the end of her relationships.

× making this delicious breakfast for the week (c/o my old roommate!):

× dreading the cold weather... if I were in Minnesota right now, I would jet plane myself right out of there.

× feeling sad that all the pumpkins are rotting and falling apart on my porch. on the bright side... there have been discussions about when our house will be getting our Christmas tree!

× my own soreness woke me up at 3 AM today... apparently falling asleep on your arm isn't as comfortable as one would think.

× does anyone else feel insanely unmotivated to leave the house after it's dark outside?

× thinking often about both friends who are having babies and friends who are struggling to have babies. it's not always as easy as we think it will be, I'm learning. (prayers to all of you!)

× super jealous of anyone who gets to honeymoon in Spain... I'm looking at you, Jude! oh, to go back to 2006 and be in Barcelona again....

× thank you to veterans... young or old, active or retired, fighting on front lines or sitting at a desk, you all matter and are crucial to our country! enjoy your day :)