Monday Feels

Today was blustery & wet. The rain was pouring down, blowing sideways, swirling around...and all I wanted to do was curl up in bed with a good book and some tea. But, alas, it was Monday. Whenever it's stormy outside I get soooo lazy, but the world doesn't stop just because the weather is perfect for a cozy day on the couch :) However, in honor of those Monday feels here is my weekly mood board dedicated completely to those stormy, cold, yucky Mondays!

The 52 Lists Project: List 43

This past weeks prompt was: List your favorite meals and treats. 

Well, my inner fat kid had a field day with this one. I've been known to put away copious amounts of ice cream in very short time periods. Reeses run screaming from me. And no biscuit is safe when I'm around. With that being said here is my list...

When it's hot outside: watermelon, pink drink ice pops, lemon sorbet, ice cream, peaches, grapefruits, ice cold corona, beefsteak tomato sandwiches 

When it's cold outside: veggie chili, tomato soup and grilled cheese, my dad's christmas chocolate chip cookies, mom's chex mix, cheese grits, hot coco, s'mores

All of the time: Swedish fish, southern buttermilk biscuits, coffee flavored everything, french fries with ranch, mashed potatoes, sweet tea, dark chocolate, rice and black beans, cosmic cantina veggie deluxe burritos, cold orange juice, blackberries, strawberries, oreos, peppermint everything, big crunchy salads with lots of veggies in them, cheese & wine

I'm certain that I've forgotten something, but I am making myself soooo hungry writing this all down that I think I need to go get a snack ;) 

What are some of your favorite foods??

This weeks prompt is:

List the words that warm your heart.

Bull City Race Fest

It feels like its been forever since I have had a chance to sit down and write! Probably, because it has been. Last week was insane because I had to study for and take my Florida Real Estate Brokers exam. It was so tricky, but thankfully having my license in NC made it much easier than it could have been. I definitely don't recommend taking the brokers class online without a real teacher if you don't have any experience with real estate because you will learn LITERALLY nothing. Anyway, I passed and its over! I can officially work as a buyers agent in the state of Florida now wooooooo :)

With all the excitement from my test, work being crazy, and planning our move out of the apartment (!) I almost completely forgot about the half marathon I was supposed to be training for...

Welp, I did it! 13.1 miles of hills that I didn't even know existed in Durham. It was actually a really liberating and empowering experience. I never even knew I COULD run that far so it's absolutely hilarious to me that I did it. It was also really fun to be back in my hometown and see what fall is supposed to look like! Running through the city all the leaves were changing, there was no humidity, and the day was sunny, mid 50's, and absolutely beautiful. 

My knees are killing me, and I will probably be walking like an 80 year old for the next week but it was totally worth it and I may be hooked...I have already started looking up other races to run in which is funny because for the whole last chunk of the race I was telling myself I would NEVER do it again. They have a Disney Princess Run in Disney World. That makes me so happy! If I could find a Harry Potter race I would be in heaven...

So hears to doing activities you thought were nearly impossible, pushing your limits, and trying new things!!

List the things that make you feel peaceful...

This weeks prompt for The 52 Lists Project was List things that make you feel peaceful.

I have been described as a lot of things in my life, but peaceful is not one of them. Sure, there are times in my life when I think, 'hey, this is pretty darn peaceful,' but they are few and far between. In fact, when I try to think about those times in my life where everything just seemed to slow down and there was a feeling of quiet peacefulness, one big trend emerges. All of these moments happen when there is nothing particularly grand or momentous happening. Those calm, content, peaceful seconds always occur in the quiet, little moments that you never really think about, almost like a pause. And lots of these times, I find that I am surrounded by the people I love having a great time, just hanging out, laughing and talking, and I find myself taking an involuntary step back and just watching everyone. (This sounds creepy when I write it down haha) But I honestly think that I find myself the most at peace when I am with the people I love. You can almost feel the energy that connects you together in those peaceful moments and life seems so simple. On the opposite end of the spectrum, some of the most peaceful times are the moments when you find yourself completely and contentedly alone. So, upon breaking these moments down and acknowledging what tiny, little details make them so peaceful here is what I've found...

The Things That Make Me Feel Peaceful:
~the sound of cicadas on a summer night
~cool breezes & warm sweatshirts
~crackling fires, peppermint tea, & a good book
~music that is turned down to be background noise
~thunderstorms
~random mid afternoon naps
~my bed when its cold outside but the comforter and sheets are still warm
~swimming when no one else is around
~looking straight up at the tops of the tall pines trees as the summer wind rustles them around
~long hugs (not the creepy kind though, you know what I'm talking about)
~the sound of the ocean
~hearing the noises outside when you leave your windows open at night (no the screaming Duke students though...)
~movie nights
~that first moment when you step into a warm house when its freezing outside
~the sound of falling snow (you know, that muffled crunchy sound?)
~fairy lights
~holding sleeping fur(babies)
~mountains
~that noise cars make when they drive through the rain, but you're snuggly in bed
~Gryffindor common room (yep, i said it)

As I started making this list, I realized that there are actually a ton of little peaceful things that I could name! But my list is beginning to get extensive so I will save the rest for my 52 Lists book...

What are some of the things in your life that make YOU feel peaceful? I think maybe we should all think about it and try to surround ourselves with those things more often. It's so easy to get caught up in a crazy whirlwind of a routine and forget to appreciate the little moments in life that truly make us happy and content. 

And the best part is...I think it's probably a lot easier to surround ourselves with this energy than we think it is!

Happy listing :)

E

Morning Routine

It seems like every time I go online these days I see a bunch of posts about 'how to have an effective morning routine'. I used to be the QUEEN of the morning routine. I was up at five to walk the dogs, would go to the gym for an hour, come home and shower, eat my breakfast, drink my coffee, and read the news on my porch before heading in to the office.

I don't know what has happened since my move down to Florida, but I have turned into a complete disaster in the mornings. I roll onto the floor, grumble all the way down the stairs to let the dogs out, walk to the dog park looking like a hot damn mess, grumble all the way back to the apartment, feed the dogs, and then get back into bed where I hit snooze about 7 more times until I'm impossibly late. 

This is a horrible way to start your day. And even though technically I've been getting more sleep, I feel much more fatigued during the day (no matter how many cups of coffee I drink). Not to mention the fact that I am supposed to run a half marathon in a week and I haven't been exercising AT ALL for the last week and a half. Gahhhhh!

I have got to get myself together and get back on the healthy morning routine train, so thank you internet bloggers for reminding me that I don't have to be a slovenly, exhausted, slightly out of shape pig!

This post is here purely to provide evidence and hold me accountable for what I am about to say...

Starting tomorrow, I will adhere to the following morning routine NO MATTER WHAT!

*6:00am Wake up, walk/feed dogs

*6:30am RUN!!! (5 miles)

*7:30am Shower & get ready for work

*8:00am relax: read news, meditate, drink coffee (whatever)

*8:30am go to work not looking like a madwoman

I feel really good about this. This will not be a problem at all. Haha but seriously, I think making these few, small changes will help me a lot as far as getting myself moving in the morning! Alsooooo maybe now I won't die during this half marathon...

What are some of the ways you start your mornings in a positive way?

E

No more mattress on the floor???

People. I have an announcement to make...

After 7 long months of sleeping on a mattress on the floor & putting off the inevitable hassle of buying a bed frame, we took the plunge and bought a bed last night.

Hallelujah!

It's not looking like we will be in this apartment for much longer (more on that later!) so I figured it was time to start getting my Pinterest boards together for a little redecorating.

We bought our bed on the Joss & Main website during a super awesome sale so it was almost 30% off and shipping was free...timing is everything!

Here is the one we went with:

Anyone who knows me can tell you I love grey. I know its weird, but grey is seriously my favorite color. I like to wear it, paint it on walls, decorate with it. Its such a great color because it can be understated and neutral but also add a pop of unexpected and dramatic color. I'm obsessed with this bed frame because it is grey AND it's linen. Double win. 

Also, it's got the perfect headboard for those late night reading sessions. I love how cozy the wrap around head board wings are. I seriously can not wait to redesign our room around this darn bed. Haha okay, I'm done talking about the headboard now. 

Here are a few pics I've been using as inspiration for our room.

I think it is very important that your bedroom is a space that doesn't have a lot of distractions as far as electronics and junk goes. It should be minimal, cozy, and easy to fall asleep in. There is nothing better to me, than crawling into fresh sheets at the end of a long day and relaxing with a good book or my computer (and a couple of dogs...)

I'm pretty sure I could snuggle up in any of these beds and take a nap...

The 52 Lists Project: Week 41

This weeks prompt was...

List all of your favorite things about fall.

Easy right? Actually, I am quite basic so this was really hard. I just love too many things about fall. So here is my SHORT list! It is extensive & I apologize in advance.

*the way the air smells like wood stoves & bonfires & burning leaves
*the colors of all the leaves, especially in the NC mountains
*the poetry & stories & lore about the fall
*huge, cozy knits to wear & snuggle under
*coming home to a simmering crockpot full of soup or chili
*apple pie & pumpkin pie & pecan pie (basically all the pie)
*all of my favorite holidays! 
*bonfires & s'mores & camping
*big, fluffy socks
*leggings and tights (and not having to shave...muahaha)
*that crisp, clean, cold smell
* open windows & cool breezes
*hot cocoa, flavored coffee, apple cider oh my
*wearing ALL the scarves
*reading about how cozy everyone else is online
*knowing that its cold outside and that you are snuggly, warm inside
*getting out the big, down comforters 
*FLANNEL
*tailgating at football games with friends and family
*smelly candles (apple, cinnamon, vanilla, spruce)
*diffusing my favorite fall essential oils like tangerine & eucalyptus
*watching holiday movies
*puppy snuggles
*pumpkins and fall home decor

What are your favorite things about the fall??

-E

P.S This weeks prompt is:

List the things that make you feel peaceful.