Gifts of Joy
Posted: June 3, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Christmas movies, crochet, friends, gifts, life Leave a comment »To be honest it’s been harder to find the “joy” in life this past week. Nevertheless, I promised myself that I would search for my “simple” gifts and post my highlights from the week. Here we go…
- The fresh feeling after a hair trim
- Processionals at weddings (they get me everytime)
- Getting out on the dance floor – dancing with my dad
- When babies rub their sleepy eyes
- Finishing puzzles – crosswords/Sudoku
- Falling asleep to the sound of rain
- Trying out a new yoga DVD
- Rainy days
- Cricket/cicada symphonies
- Selling afghans/things I make
- Morning walk before it got too hot
- Watching Christmas movies in the summertime
- Getting asked for my number by a random guy – ego boost
- Puffy clouds
- Meeting (and more importantly approving of) one of my best friend’s boyfriend
- Mini “getaway” to the town I went to college in
Food Friday
Posted: June 1, 2012 Filed under: food, links | Tags: dinner, food, recipe, slow cooker Leave a comment »So my brother had randomly said something about how the reason why people become addicted to Doritos is because they have MSG. Now, I’m not one for junk food, but his comment got me wondering about what other foods contain MSG and what it is really. I found this website and found it pretty informative - scary! I try to eat as “clean/natural” as possible, but we can’t be perfect all the time!
Some of my favorite eats of the week:
Tall Skinny Iced Mocha
New Raspberry Pomegranate Refresher
Chipotle: Salad, Carnitas, Black Beans, Tomato & Corn Salsa
Eggs, Spinach, Cottage Cheese, Whole Wheat Toast with Whipped Butter
Panera: Greek Salad, Ham & Swiss Sandwich on Rye, & Apple
Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken, Black Beans, and Mixed Veggies
May Days
Posted: May 31, 2012 Filed under: books, future, movie, projects, quotes, work, yoga | Tags: books, crafts, etsy, family, life, Rangers, reading, work, yoga Leave a comment »
Highlights from this month!
- Saw The Avengers in theaters
- Visiting the Dallas Museum of Nature and Science
- Spent time with my grandmother from New York who was visiting was visiting for New York State
- Cancelled my gym membership – yoga and walks are now my form of exercise
- Quit my job to take some time off for rest and healing
- Crafting! Crafting! Crafting!
- Mother’s Day at the Texas Ranger’s game
- Got an internship with a wedding floral design company!
- Abby’s Wedding
- Hanging out with a few of my best friends that I hadn’t seen in ages
- Dinner with my mom, Aunt Terri, and cousin Becca (who I don’t see very often)
- Practiced yoga 12 days in a row (and still counting!)
- Got Texas Ranger’s pitcher Robbie Ross’s autograph
- Books Read: The Darlings, Mockingjay, Catching Fire, What We Keep, The Art of Mending, Open House, Never Change, The Sisters, The Lifeboat, & Dream When You’re Feeling Blue
- Movies Watched: The Avengers (in theaters), Secretariat, Definitely Maybe, & The Conspirator
So my May wasn’t too super exciting… I did get to meet up with friends and family that I hadn’t seen in a long time which I enjoyed. I have my new internship to look forward to in the following months. Working in the wedding industry has always been one of my “dream jobs” and I’m so fortunate to have this opportunity! It’s 3 months unpaid, but if things go well I’ll be eligible for hire. I’m planning on meeting up with more friends and hoping to try new things! Time to mix up my routine and really celebrate life!
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Books, Books, Book!
Posted: May 30, 2012 Filed under: books, quotes | Tags: books, inspiration, quotes, reading Leave a comment »
It’s bookworm Wednesday time!
This was one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! I wasn’t sure if I’d like it at first, but after a few chapters it was so hard to put down! It follows the lineage of sisters. I enjoyed how you follow them throughout their life and then see how their pasts intertwine with their own daughters and granddaughters. I’m also glad that they had a family tree listed in the beginning of the book because it was easy to who was who confused!
Whatever we carry inside us shapes everything we touch.
- The Sisters by Nancy Jensen
I finished this book yesterday. It was a little disappointing. Not a “bad book” at all, but it was not what I was expecting. It seemed a bit repetitive at times, but overall it is a good story of survival and morals.
But hope had always seemed to me like a weak emotion, a kind of pleading passivity or entrenched denial.
- The Lifeboat by Charlotte Rogan
Another book by Elizabeth Berg that I loved. This one seemed different from the previous ones of hers that I have read. I’m not sure why. Maybe because I am a bit biased based on the fact that WWII (which is when the story is set) is one of my favorite eras. The book was predictable at times but my interest was kept by little “twists.” It was a tough one to put down and I was sad when I closed it at the end. I wanted more!
All that stuff is not important,” Louise said. “I think the most important thing about loving someone is not even the wat you feel about them, but the way he makes you feel about yourself…”
- Dream When You’re Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg
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Read any good books lately?!
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Going to the Chapel
Posted: May 28, 2012 Filed under: food, weekend, yoga | Tags: family, holiday, life, reading, weddings, weekend Leave a comment »
Ah, this past weekend was much better than the previous one!
I started Saturday off with a much-needed hair trim. It feels too short, but I know that it will be healthier and hopefully grow faster. Then some last-minute dress shopping at the mall
I had a great time at my mom’s bosses daughter’s wedding. The ceremony was held in a very impressive chapel and the reception followed at The Ritz-Carlton downtown. Talk about being spiffy!
I enjoyed the dancing at the reception so much. Dancing is so liberating for me! I know that I dance like a “white girl” but I had so much fun. I honestly don’t remember the last time I was that happy. I wasn’t even “faking” a smile. My dad literally had to drag me off the dance floor when my family was ready to leave (I wanted to stay longer – I had my eye on a cute guy).
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The rest of the weekend looked pretty much like any other day. Lots of reading, crocheting, and laying out in the backyard.
Yoga and my evening walks are becoming “necessities” for my sanity – habits that allow me to clear my head. However, I’ve already noticed when something else (holidays) come up and my routine gets thrown off I get anxious/annoyed. It’s important to be flexible and no that sometimes things just “come up” – usually things better than what I planned (example, getting invited to go out to lunch or a movie) – but it still irks me. I really need to work on being a less dichotomous thinker….
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So how was your Memorial Day Weekend?
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Simple Gifts
Posted: May 26, 2012 Filed under: Uncategorized 2 Comments »
My “simple gifts” of the week:
- Season finales that end on a “good note” - Criminal Minds
- Cotton-tailed bunnies
- The smell of cookouts/backyard BBQs
- The fist sip of a Sonic Diet Cherry Limeade – especially during their happy hour
- Taking sheets fresh out of the dryer
- Refreshing morning showers
- Cute repair guys
- Finishing craft projects that I start
- Getting hooked on a new book
- Seeing couples holding hands as they walk around
- Going to Victoria’s Secret just to spritz myself with perfume so I smell good
- Catching green lights
- Seeing the first “lightning bugs” of the season
- When your favorite songs come on the radio back-to-back – especially when stuck in traffic
- A refreshing breeze on a hot day
- Receiving non-bill/junk mail
- The “energy” coffee shops have
What were some of the gifts that you received this week?!
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Crafting My Time
Posted: May 24, 2012 Filed under: projects | Tags: crafts, etsy, life, summer Leave a comment »I told you that I’ve been crafting… Thought I’d share my creations with you!
The blocks are reversible – flip “Freedom” over and remove the “m” and you get “Summer.” They are fairly easy to make, just time-consuming.
The Process (in a nut shell): Getting the wood cut, sanding the wood down, painting the wood white, letting it dry… Cut out scrapbook paper, glue paper to the dried blocks, Cut out/trace letters, glue letters to blocks, & let dry… Cover paper/blocks with a layer of Mod Podge, let dr… add another coat, let dry… FINALLY seal the blocks with glossy acrylic spray & let dry. I’m not a fan of the “drying” phases. It means I have to practice my patience
Though the steps can be tedious the results are well worth it. It’s so rewarding to be able to display and take pride in something that you made yourself. It makes the “season” more special and homemade decor is more unique and often cheaper (whoo hoo!) than anything you can buy in a store.
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Check out my Etsy shop for other completed projects!
Entertain Me, Please
Posted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: books, food, movie, projects, yoga | Tags: books, crafts, crochet, dinner, life, reading, sleep 2 Comments »I’ve felt so weird the past few days. I guess my “lame” weekend kinda started it off. I’ve been working really hard not to throw “pity parties” for myself. Sleep hasn’t been getting much better, but I am usually able to nap so that can help. For the most I’ve been keeping myself occupied with yoga, reading, crocheting, and craft projects. Yesterday and today crocheting could barely hold my interest. Usually it’s my “go to” activity to help calm my mind – it helps me to ”space out.” Restless, restless. It was nice escaping to the library for a few afternoons last week. I haven’t made it their this week though. It’s already pretty hot outside for me and I hate getting in of a hot oven… I mean my car. I suppose I need to add a bit more variety to the mix. I have been planning meals and cooking for my family (Turkey Maid Rites and Chicken Fajitas) which also gives me something to do/plan.
I don’t know, I just have this strange feeling that I can’t put into words. My days are beginning to blur together. The morning seems so long ago, like it was a whole different day. I’m not losing my mind, I swear, just need to continue to rest and catch up on my sleep!
Entertainment
The Daily Grind
Posted: May 21, 2012 Filed under: projects, Uncategorized, yoga | Tags: etsy, life, list, reading, routine, schedule, sleep Leave a comment »
A Day in the Life of My Cat
My “typical day” has been looking like this:
- Wake up
- Yoga/stretch
- Make tea, tidy kitchen, breakfast
- Watch the morning news of HGTV (whatever is more interesting), computer – check emails, etc.
- Crochet/craft time
- yoga or walk (if not done earlier)
- Lunch
- Reading
- Errands – library, shopping, appointments
- Nap
- Dinner
- Reading
- Walk or yoga
- TV/Computer
- Snack
- Reading
- Bed
Now, not every day looks like this. It’s just an outline that helps me feel like I have some semblance of a routine, since I work well with structure, but still offers me the freedom not to feel too constrained.
Simple Saturday
Posted: May 19, 2012 Filed under: books, food, I love..., yoga | Tags: books, etsy, family, inspiration, life, present, Rangers, reading, simple, yoga 2 Comments »
If you’ve been following my blog then you know that living a more “simple life” has been one of my goals. I read the book One Thousand Gifts, which inspired me to reflect upon the simpler gifts in life. Since finishing the book over a month ago, I’ve been writing down at least 3-5 encounters that brought me joy before I go to bed each night. I want to begin posting some of the “highlights” from my week on Saturday. I’m thinking that it will help me refocus on what’s really important in life and remind me to really focus on living in the present.
- The lines left behind on floors after vacuuming
- Books that you can’t put down
- Morning yoga
- Finding a new “escape” – my local library
- Kitties when they chase their tails
- Eating meals outside in the sunshine
- Recharging naps
- Soap bubbles in the shape of a heart on my shower mat
- Watching kites fly in the wind
- Ripples made on a calm lake
- Our Magnolia tree full of blossoms
- Sunsets
- Baby ducks
- Create-Your-Own Sundaes! (Mc Donald’s Ice cream cup, Kashi Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie, & a Scoop of Peanut Butter)
What “little things” have brought you joy recently?
