Currently Cultivating: week in review

Showing posts with label week in review. Show all posts

Just like that, I'm almost through orientation week. Which means next week things start getting real, real fast. My emotions have been all over the place: butterflies of excitement when I least expect it; fear of what's to come (and more fear over my ability to incorporate the fire hose of information that'll be coming at me); pangs of loneliness when I climb into an empty bed at night. Fortunately the moments of melancholy are few and far between these days.

Our apartment is losing its newness and becoming more familiar with each passing day. The boxes are all emptied and our belongings have found their places. Every evening candles burn with familiar scents, replacing the smell of new carpet and freshly painted walls. It's smaller than the home before it, but I like the simplicity and coziness of it's size and location. And while a lot of the art and chotchkes are tucked away for another day and/or another home, the space still very much represents who we are and what we love. The second bedroom is unoccupied, as is the sunroom/office, but they'll be furnished and ready when the boys eventually make their way back.

This morning at orientation we had a financial expert as a guest speaker. He was dynamic and real and funny, and now I'm insanely motivated to create an updated budget + get back to our debt snowball after a long hiatus. We also heard from a panel of 3rd year students in the midst of their clinical rotations. It gave me a serious case of the tingles. I can't wait to practice medicine! There's a lot that stands between me and The Dream, but I'm making a conscious effort to only focus on today—to enjoy the process and immerse myself in the experience. I have an exceptional group of cohorts I'd like to get to know better, and I enjoy learning so darn much; it would be a shame to miss out because I was always looking ahead. Living in the now hasn't always come naturally to me, but I'm getting there.

Last night after class I came home, put on comfy clothes, and...meal prepped. I know. I wasn't expecting that either. Though orientation is far from rigorous, I'm mentally exhausted by day's end. There is a lot of information being thrown at us, and little context regarding how to apply it just yet, so it all feels very big and speculative. And let's not forget: the buildup to this week has been a long time coming, so it'll take a moment to wrap my mind around the fact that it's all finally happening in real time. I'm processing and increasing my bandwidth by the hour these days. Anyway. I chopped veggies and cubed cheese and made myself a lettuce-wrapped turkey sandwich for dinner. I packed my lunch for today and went to bed before midnight for the first time in months. Progress.

This weekend will be more of the same. On the agenda: sleep, (more) meal prep, and maybe a facial? Relaxation! The sooner I finish normalizing this life of mine, the sooner I'll acclimate to, well, life as I now know it. So while I'm saying yes to social engagements and yes to opportunities in an attempt to immerse myself in this amazing experience, I'm also saying yes to well-being and quiet time and ritual. Because those are important, too (maybe more so?).

In the meantime, here are some things I've seen, heard and bookmarked as of late:

Speaking of meal prep, these 20 On-the-Go Paleo Lunches look awesome. (I'm getting back to eating Whole30/Paleo as much as possible.)

The Instant De-Frizzer by Living Proof is helping sooo much with my hair in this hot, humid climate. In combination with their Nourishing Styling Cream, things are staying a lot smoother. (It's been raining heavily the last few days, so I need all the help I can get.)

This Summer Cobb Salad with Coconut Bacon looks bonkers good. (I've been craving veggies...turns out there is such a thing as too many catered box lunches.)

On the recommendation of my fellow students, I bought an iPad Pro and pencil tool this week which will allow me to take notes directly on our PowerPoint slides. Advice or suggestions on apps or ways to use it that will optimize my experience? (I loathed to buy more technology, especially after the expense of upgrading my laptop, but it seems invaluable for anatomy.)

Clever Ideas for Organization and Storage in Small Spaces is right up my alley since moving across the country into a much smaller abode a month ago.

I haven't been hungry for breakfast on the mornings with an earlier start time, so these macadamia nut butter packets have been bridging the meal gap. (I eat it straight out of the packet.)

Easy Refrigerator Dill Pickles (I could eat pickles for breakfast, lunch and dinner!)

A fascinating New Yorker piece on the concept of "financial resentment."

I had a rare chocolate craving last night...this Vegan Chocolate Peanut Butter Freezer Fudge would definitely do the job.

How to Make Friends, According to Science (Interesting stats! I'm meeting a lot of new people right now...)

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Seen, Heard and Bookmarked: Orientation Week

Friday, August 3, 2018

http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Skirts/A-line-Full/WG590-RED/Womens-Red-Vintage-Floral-Florence-Skirt.html#/http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/Womens-Skirts/A-line-Full/WG590/Womens-Florence-Skirt.html

TGIF, amiright? My weekend plans, so far, are to wear Birks, finish a book, and soak up some sunshine. The rest is a blank slate, though I suspect ice cream will be involved. And brunch. We've barely scratched the surface of the Portland food scene, after all.

Here's a glimpse into what was seen and heard this week:

I have such a fascination with Matt Lauer.

An old favorite I'll be (re)watching this weekend. RIP, Jonathan Crombie.

This skirt + print.

If Portland were a teenager, it would win best-dressed + most likely to succeed at prom. It is that on trend. (Exhibit A)

Reformed introvert.

The funniest show we've seen in a while. (Mario and I are obsessed.) (I'm crushing hard.)

Salad season.

The last book I bought (for the year). Hopefully it will elevate my attempts at simplifying.

Seen. Heard. Bookmarked.

Friday, May 1, 2015

As previously mentioned, I retired my geriatric laptop recently. That lovely creature had been my constant companion: it was there when I typed my very first blog post (and three subsequent years of blogging); helped me produce countless term papers and research essays over the course of four years (and patiently waited while I procrastinated my way through writer's block and general laziness); and saw me through hundreds of hours of internet surfing.

That machine, it would seem, knows me better than myself: it holds 7+ years of bookmarks and documents, some I don't even remember saving. You know how after many years of using Netflix it gets to know you and your preferences and begins making suggestions based on your mood, which makes you swear it knows you? That's that computer for me. Sarah from 6 years ago bookmarked a website because she thought Future Sarah would totally appreciate that style of writing, clothing design, or be in a place to buy those totally gorgeous but oh so expensive handmade wooden spoons. It's a time capsule of sorts.

Saying goodbye to that history, both literally and figuratively, was hard. (Which is probably why Shiny New Computer lived in its box for nearly a month before I cracked her open.) My emotional hangups about inanimate objects aside, starting over with a clean state is always refreshing. It has been fun finding a new group of favorites based on where I am now. My bookmarks are organized into folders, and my Word documents will one day (soon, I hope) be filled grad school-worthy material.

Over the last year I've been turning the page on a new chapter, while discovering new likes and interests. Sorting through and backing up photos, documents and bookmarks from my old computer has been nostalgic but also freeing. A reminder that we are ever-evolving creatures; our likes and interests are not static over a lifetime.

Here are some lovely things that made it into my save pile this week:

Puberty, pregnancy and weight fluctuations haven't been kind to my body, so I'm a one-piece kinda gal. I think I found my dream swimsuit.

This website is filled to the brim with unique, colorful toys... but I'm totally smitten. Search their site for nesting dolls. I double dog dare you.

This waxed canvas tote is perfection. (I'd use it as a non-diaper bag.)

Perhaps the perfect dress?

The art of nature.

A beautiful new cookbook made it into our home this week. It has quickly become a favorite.

Happy Weekend!

Bookmarked

Friday, April 17, 2015

// Previously mentioned early morning jog. My body said Get Up! last Saturday morning, and so I did. (It also said Let there be Shinsplints, Side Cramps and Achy Hips!, and so it was. Though to be fair, what did I expect after so many weeks on the lam?) //

// The world is vastly different at sunrise, I've come to realize on those rare occasions when I dare to leave the house on foot at such an hour. Only a select few attended the party, so I had the streets mostly to myself. I noticed things like the glitter of morning dew on the grass, sparkling like millions of tiny diamonds. And the first signs of changing leaves in the uppermost branches. Then there was that family of impossibly fuzzy rabbits darting across the schoolyard. Even the high school, a vessel for so many anxious thoughts over the past couple weeks, seemed tame in the early morning light. Dare I say, approachable. Anything seems possible at sunrise, which is why I simply must become a morning person. Let it be so. //

// Introducing our favorite salvage/antique/oddities store to good friends. // Remembering our first awestruck visit. // Shenanigans. //

// Our new favorite Saturday morning activity: the Portland Farmer's Market. I love, love, love this place. The neighborhood, the vibe, the amazing booths. It's not your typical farmer's market. (Says I.) Mario stood in line for 30+ minutes just to score a chicken + biscuit sandwich. Worth every second. // Finding out what real, freshly-grown ginger looks like. Quite beautiful and nothing like I surmised. // Jellies and jams to the moon and back. // A kiddo who eats tomatoes like apples. I find it entirely charming. And confusing, considering he won't eat a turkey sandwich. But mostly charming. // Crepes filled with fresh lemon curd. // I bought this house in my mind one hundred times over. //

// Sweet relief from my allergies. When something works this well, you don't even complain about gulping down a mixture of raw honey + raw ACV + bee pollen + nettle + herbs. You just do it. //

// The "Edgefield Fizz" // Chocolates almost too pretty to eat. // Waking up to this furry face on a Sunday morning. // A boy who still picks flowers for his mom. Sometimes he'll come across a lovely bud during his cross-country run and will carry it around with him until I come to pick him up. If that isn't the best thing, I don't know what is. //

// Dinner party prep. //

// Gummy bear sangria that was a huge hit. So much so that when we ran out of white wine, we started improvising ingredients so the party would never end. //

// So many new recipes. I've never had such a long run of new meals without experiencing a dud or two. The recipes in this cookbook are so simple, yet so awesome. (They aren't paying me. I swear!) //

// The fiddle leaf fig lives on! No new leaves, but no dead ones, either. *knock on wood* Also, it is clearly Vista's favorite place to be photographed. //

// Stay with me forever, Pumpkins on a Stick. // I couldn't wait until September 21st, try as I might. A fall drink made it into my morning. I've never warmed up to the taste of Pumpkin Spice (blasphemy!, and yet another reason I should be kicked out of the blogosphere), but this vanilla-cinnamon latte made me feel all fuzzy inside. //

// Revisiting an old favorite. (Can it be an "old favorite" if we've only lived here 2 months?) A few weeks ago Husband and I made the mistake of setting up camp in a local coffee shop on a scorching day and nearly died of heat stroke. The charm of being in an old garage is, well, less charming in the throes of a heat wave. All that aside, their coffee is awesome. So is the vibe. (Think coffee island in the center of an industrial building + vintage tables and chairs/church pews.) I could spend (cooler) days and days in there. //

Last weekend some great friends, most of which we've known for over a decade, came to town. We had dinner, toured Portland, and in general had a merry time.

I made a makeshift guest room out of the office; a bed fashioned from two carefully chosen pieces of "camping foam" (a wonderfully random Fred Meyers find) which, when stacked, made a twin-size memory foam mattress for one. How very domestic of me.

And as these things always go, we had the best of times but also sacrificed the usual restorative qualities of the weekend. Monday came before we knew it and we have felt a bit off-kilter ever since. Laundry is just now being acknowledged and counters wiped and I nearly wept openly which I switched my alarm to the "off" position this morning.

Three cheers for the weekend!

I decree: there will be pajamas worn longer than socially acceptable, pizza delivered, and mindless television watched. Hear, hear!

A week in the life.

Friday, September 19, 2014

Our first week of "real life" comes to a close today. And what a week it has been. Adjusting to a new routine, mom moments that took my breath away, and the contemplation of my own future.

There was a lot to take in, but also a lot to celebrate.

I'm welcoming Friday with open arms.

1// A coffee date with my husband. We used to enjoy these get-togethers on a semi-regular basis, but his work projects and conference calls have been all-encompassing lately. I've missed him. And although we are just sitting side-by-side in a coffee house, working on our respective digital projects, we're together.

That's certainly something to celebrate.

2// With Kiddo back in school, I've been contemplating the next step in my journey. The struggle to find and attain fulfillment is a post in and of itself, but know that the last couple days have been spent guessing, second guessing, and doubting.

In the end, I know I want to be a physician assistant. It's the sole reason I went back to college and the driving force behind my subsequent (successful) college career. Heck, it's the primary reason we moved from one coast to the other. But getting there is proving much harder than I had anticipated; a college degree isn't the golden ticket it once was. And so, I needed to stop flailing/agonizing and make a decision.

This morning, I did. (Plan A and Plan B have been established.)

Upon walking into this coffee shop, already exuberant over the opportunity to work alongside Mario, I was faced with this quote:

What if I fall?

Oh, but my darling what if you fly?

The floor to ceiling blackboard in this particular shop changes regularly. So why, of all days, does it say something I so needed to hear? That's been happening to me a lot lately.

(Like this quote, stumbled upon in Schoolhouse Electric, while I was in the midst of some serious self-doubt. This print now resides on my bedroom wall.)

To say that mere words, written on a chalkboard, helped me sort out a snarl I've been trying to untangle for weeks, seems a bit dramatic. But sometimes we are standing at a precipice, this close to knowing what the right decision really is.

All we need is a nudge.

I got mine.

3// A shift has occurred, and it was both gradual and all at once: I woke up one morning this week and needed a sweater + close-toed shoes.

A crispness has entered the air and this girl is not complaining.

Since I'm still acclimating to cooking in a vastly different kitchen from the last, simple yet hearty one-dish dinners top the meal-planning list. Like this soup. It is always in circulation when the weather favors soup, and sometimes even when it doesn't. (Don't let the amateur photos deter you. It's awesome.)

The menu has been a mix of oldies but goodies + new discoveries. So far no duds! Kiddo ate a salad last night! (I'm still pinching myself.)

(Pictures and links to come! But high five for now!)

Now, what to cook on this hot September day...

(While watching one of my all-time favorite movies, duh.)

4// It's safe to say our house is done. Not to suggest that decorating a home complete with running water and all the creature comforts one could ask for is a challenge per se.

But adjusting to a whole new way of life is. So is making sure your kiddo is doing okay with all the changes and topsy turvy-ness that comes with starting over.

Things like an organized closet and home cooked meals go a long way toward finding normalcy, and I'm happy to report that we have. Having school start this week was the motivation we needed to put those last few things together.

5// This kid. Oh, this kid. Boy have I fretted over him lately. He was a rigid little tike, and although flexibility is a trait he has acquired over the last couple years, it's still relatively new to him.

We've been throwing some curveballs at him lately, to say the least.

Worries swirled around my brain in a constant rotation: How was he going to do with the increased demands of high school? (Especially after attending a small, laid-back charter school for the last two years.) If that weren't enough, what about the added demands that come with being a member of the cross-country team with 6 day/week practices? He's never been on a competitive team before! Is he getting enough sleep? Enough to eat? Drinking enough water? How is he doing emotionally?

Yet he came home from school Wednesday afternoon with a smile on his face. A big, bright smile and oodles of great things to say. It turns out, the traditional high school format suits him really well. He's already made friends and has people to sit with at lunch! His teachers inspire him! ("Mr. M gives the BEST lectures! He's amazing!")

And while I know we will encounter hurdles along the way, as is expected, I can breathe a sigh of relief knowing he'll be just fine. Great, even.

Case in point: Yesterday, after a whole school day and a 3+ mile cross-country practice, he had to participate in a time trial to determine the JV/Varsity teams. He was tired, and his legs were cramping terribly, but he did it.

He ran his little heart out. To see him push himself, perhaps the hardest he ever has, was incredible. It's proof we are raising a resilient kid. A young man with strength and perseverance.

As a parent, that's all you hope for.

Still, I held my breath until he crossed that finish line. That's the life of a mom, though, I suppose. Always holding our breath until our kids cross those proverbial (and literal) finish lines.

tgif.

{Linking up with Lauren}

High Five for Friday: Motherhood + Marriage + Life Lessons

Friday, September 5, 2014

Turning my alarm to the "off" position is my favorite thing about Friday mornings. We have a house showing at 10a tomorrow so I'll get to wake naturally, but we'll be up and out of the house early enough to have a productive day. Waking up early on the weekends can be rather satisfying, in my opinion.

This was a post-trip, post-move hodge podge week. Appointments that need to be had before our departure took place. We had several showings on our house, so that's encouraging. Wednesday, after CrossFit, I came home and started tidying things up. We are definitely in maintenance mode where the house is concerned, especially after getting only two hours' notice prior to a showing earlier this week. Had I not been keeping it up, it would have been much more stressful. Anywho, this girl hates housekeeping. Loathes it. (Except laundry. I kind of love it.) Wednesday was different. No music, no television...just me and the house becoming one. I was the Yoda of domesticity. Which makes me think I'm changing my ways. Or becoming more zen-like about this whole process. I'm leaning toward the latter.

Here's a peek at what made this week so satisfying:

1// During a random phone conversation, Mario said, "I think we should change our attitude about selling the house. Start sending positive vibes." He was right, despite the statement being slightly out of character for him. We've been focusing on the crappy real estate market, and the fact we haven't had any offers, and our upcoming departure which creates a sense of urgency. So I bought tulips. I believe tulips in a Mason jar can sell a house. Right? Right! (And let's not forget how charming our photo-bombing feline friend is. He's so charming people could fork over large sums of money to buy this place. Right? Right.) 2// Does this cutie look familiar? Oh, yes. The deposit was received yesterday and the property is no longer up for grabs. It's officially ours! Precisely one week, almost to the minute, after we found this place...our next home. 3// Thursdays have been good to us, as Mario pointed out. Not only did we find The House and The School last Thursday morning, but we got confirmation on both yesterday. Which included getting a congratulatory letter confirming Kiddo's acceptance into the magnet program we fell in love with. Next Thursday I'm buying a lotto ticket. 4// Yesterday was froyo weather. Mid-winter can also be froyo weather for us, admittedly, but we pushed the 70 degree mark for the first time in oh, 8 months? I celebrated by ordering the toppings of a 13-year old girl. 5// Sarah's got her groove back. After a week off, and much trepidation about having to seek out a new CrossFit box, I'm hitting my stride. I actually enjoyed yesterday's WOD...while it was happening.

I didn't get around to mentioning this before we left for Portland, but I signed up for my first 5K! And I suckered some friends into doing it, too! Yay! I will be participating in the Color Me Rad run in Boston at the end of the month. In my quest to become a runner, I thought I'd better start somewhere and this seems more fun than your average 5K. The key phrase here being "In my quest to become a runner". Which means I'd better start running. We finished up a 5-week weight lifting program at CrossFit before I left on our trip, and now we are focusing on conditioning. Which has included a lot of running. Which I suck at. But I don't want to! My whole life I've wanted to be someone that runs. To feel healthy, and in the event I'm being pursued by a masked bandit. Today's WOD, which starts in less than an hour, includes three one-mile runs with intense lifting in between. I've had a pit in my stomach since I saw what it was going to entail last night.

I looked at couch to 5K programs and found that I'm way ahead of the game. I can run 400+ meters at a time outdoors (while performing some other exercise between rounds) and a mile at a time on the treadmill. But I've yet to find my groove. That quiet space in your head people talk about. Where you establish your stride and things don't hurt as bad. Can a non-runner become one? I sure hope so. There is another Color Me Rad run in Portland in September, and I'm thinking about signing up for that. As a See how far you've come! basis for comparison. Perhaps if my shin splints have healed by then.

Linking up with Lauren

Hello, Friday.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Lemony Snicket

I bid farewell to the boys this morning. Kiddo's class boarded a tour bus to Washington, D.C. at the crack of dawn. Mario is chaperoning, which means I'm flying solo for a few days. I stood out in the freezing rain waving goodbye, going mostly unnoticed among the excitement, until I couldn't feel my toes anymore. Kiddo gave me a bear hug goodbye, classmates watching be damned. It's those moments I live for. In those moments, all the frustrations of motherhood melt away and all that is left is the good stuff.

My 5:15 wake up call came too soon for my taste, yet I'm not regretting my early start. Perched in my favorite coffee shop, I'm blogging as the sun comes up over the horizon; maple latte in hand. The barista in charge of the tunes is on my wavelength, so I'm typing to the blissful sound of "Cruisin'" by Smokey Robinson. Zen moments happening.

After CrossFit, I'm heading on an adventure of my own. Instead of holing up in the house, I'm taking this mini break to, well, break away. We are still very much in New England's off season so hotel rates are a steal. There are many more nautical photos that must be taken before we bid this area adieu. I've chosen two oceanfront destinations in quaint villages, and my camera will not be on auto once this weekend. The quality of the pictures may be questionable, but today is a very good day to start shooting in manual.

In the spirit of good mornings, here's a glimpse at what is making life glow as of late:

1 // Every mom thinks their kiddo is the greatest kid in the whole world and I am no exception. This particular child is spectacular in the best ways possible. He thinks on another plane and those wild, amazing thoughts will change the world one day (or create a real-life tardis). // This week he tied for 3rd place in his fencing tournament. He is no longer classified as a novice, and has been quite pleased at that fact. // He has had his heart set on a pair Chucks for a while and last night we picked out his first pair. He couldn't look cuter. Upon getting them home, I realized they are the same size as I wear. Those stop and catch your breath mom moments are coming more often these days. // At least once a week after school we camp out at our favorite coffee shop and talk or play games. Boy I wish I had the power to freeze moments in time. (Fingers crossed on the tardis?) //

2// Some friends invited me to a morning of mani-pedis. I wasn't feeling it earlier in the week, and thought about opting out, but I'm glad I went. Even though I stuffed my feet back into socks and shoes to brave the freezing cold wind raging outside the nail salon, I felt better with a little sparkle on my piggies. 2// Coastal New England is pretty serene. Here I come. 3// My buddy Jack Sparrow has been tagging along with me a lot lately. Sometimes a high-energy dog and a kiddo feels like a lot, but I love his sweet disposition. No matter my mood, I get nothing but unconditional love from this guy. 4// Is it weird to celebrate eggs? My friend Jill, unprompted, showed up to coffee yesterday with a dozen of these beauties. Fresh from her chickens. I was so excited! Another friend, Jenn, commented that the blue eggs are the best. She's not wrong. //

Happy Friday! Linking up with Lauren.

The world is quiet here.

Friday, March 28, 2014

Neil Gaiman

I'm in this weird Oh, look at that. Another week has passed. mode. Mario will be home today and we'll spend the weekend as a family. But Fridays don't signify another week of classes down, a break from work, or being a week closer to x, y and zed... so on. It's a day. And that's weird. Still, turning off the alarm completely on Friday morning in preparation for the weekend is pretty awesome.

What was the point of that paragraph? Your guess is as good as mine. Let's move on.

Here's a look at a few things that have made this week stellar:

1// This kid. I say that all the time. But gosh is he some kid. 2// I'm finally up to 2010 in terms of advancing my technological prowess. That's right: a Bluetooth keyboard for my iPad. No more lugging my 20lb laptop around. I can do some bonafide blogging with it now. (I've had the Blogsy app for a long time but couldn't get over the hurdle of the tap screen keyboard. Now I'm really cooking with oil.) 3// It's true love. I picked the Boscia black cleanser as a 100-point bonus from Sephora a month or so ago and fell hard. It gets hot when you rub it on your face! Magic! This hydrating gel is no exception. Softer than a baby's butt around here. 4// Hello, beautiful. As I mentioned earlier this week, I bought a new lens. A 17-55mm to fill the gap between my macro and telephoto lenses (and replace the standard one that came with the camera). Holy moly is this thing awesome. It's my first Sigma lens, as I've stayed pretty loyal to Nikon, but I have a hard time believing they can make a better lens than this one. My collection is complete! (I think I'm becoming a real photography nerd!) 5// I've been feeling dangerous lately. I don't wear lipstick very often, but appreciate what a great color can do. I also think trying to find the right shade online is an impossible vortex you may never get out of. After a return and lots of perusing, I found this one. This picture doesn't do it justice... it is a deep berry that is universally flattering. It's definitely for evening wear, so I may have to establish regular date nights so I can wear it with abandon. Oh, and so I can bond with my husband. [Manna Kadar lipstick in Street Smart] P.S. I am certainly not the selfie queen. They are awkward-looking and I always have google eyes in them. Can I still be a blogger?

Have a great weekend!

[Linking up with Lauren]

Friday's a free day. A woman's day.

Friday, January 17, 2014

This break just won't quit. Today brought yet another snow day and will therefore involve pajamas and food. And hot beverages. Because it must be done. So what if Kiddo will still be in school on July 4th.

In all seriousness, I must get back to a schedule. This devil may care lifestyle is fun for a bit, but I also find the lack of structure a bit tedious after a while. I like the ritual of my weekdays. Just don't tell anyone. I've clearly gotten old. You want to start a movie after 8p? old. I have a lot to do in the month of January! Let's get this show on the road! Still, I'm enjoying these extra few days with the boys. Mario begins his crazy first quarter travel schedule next week, so I'm soaking up his rugged handsomeness.

In honor of this extra long break, the opportunity to start working toward some goals, and the fresh slate a new year brings, I'm celebrating the little things that made this inaugural week great.

1// Despite the snowy conditions, we decided to get out of the house for a bit last night. We grocery shopped, had dinner, and played Kiddo's new game, Liar's Dice, while enjoying some hot drinks. It was a nice, relaxed evening. If you hadn't noticed, my husband takes his winter driving very seriously. (I actually asked him to lean in so I could a shot... his winter getups never cease to amuse me.)

2// This is the book I hunted down after seeing it at an airport over the summer. I read about 1/3 of it then got distracted by school and the holidays and it sat in my backseat for 2 months. I fished it out and read the remainder in one day. It was a good read. Now I'm ready to delve into my rather long reading list.

3// Okay. It's a full-fledged obsession. I can't help my new found love of legwarmers. I've garnered a few Are those legwarmers? stares from strangers (usually middle-aged women), but I don't care. I'm comfy. After working out, the ability to slip these on and just head out is awesome.

4// Speaking of working out. This past Monday I went back after 6 days off over Christmas. It sucked and I felt unmotivated. Flat. I could scarcely overhead squat 15 pounds. Morale was low. New Year's Eve was better. Much better. I'm ready to put the holidays behind me and get back in the swing of things. To see steady progress again. I'm having trouble connecting with one of the coaches, so I'm trying to overcome that and figure out how to prevent said person from getting in my head. Overcoming these hurdles is good for me, I think. (Though it certainly doesn't feel that way at the time.)

5// Mario got me this sock loom for Christmas. So I can make more legwarmers, of course. I kid. I actually thought it would fun to make some thick wool lounging socks. I'm a sock lover, I am. It's a bit tricky, but then there's YouTube to get me through it. There are knitting classes at a local shop I'm also thinking about taking in the coming weeks. I have some basic crochet skills, but I'm eager to expand my knowledge in this area.

Also, I bought a photography eBook. I'm determined to put my camera on manual and leave it there. I finally have the time to develop some skills while stretching my mental muscles. Although school is done for now, I still want to challenge myself. But in ways I want to be challenged. I realize every day this opportunity is a luxury and therefore a second should not be wasted.