2017 Booklist: Part One

Every year I try to get my thoughts together and make a list of all the books I want to read in the following year. Now, this list almost always changes as the year progresses, books get added, they fall off the list, I read part of one and hate it, I re-read Harry Potter 8 millions times, but its a good baseline. This year, following the last week of madness in our country, my list has undergone perhaps one of the biggest overhauls ever. I have always been curious and pushed myself to learn about different topics but this past month has scared the crap out of me. Seeing the level of ignorance and fear that is in our world today, and witnessing first hand how it combats love, acceptance, and progress has lit a fire under my butt to learn as much about the state of our world as possible.

With that being said, my book list is basically shot to hell and has now split into two lists (because obviously some 'fun' books will still be required). So here we go...

Learning List:
1. The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein)
2. Dark Money (Jane Mayer)
3. White Trash (Nancy Isenberg)
4. This Changes Everything (Naomi Klein)
5. Six Degrees (Mark Linus)
6. Listen, Liberal (Mark Frank)
7. Hillbilly Elegy (J.D Vance)
8. Field Notes From a Catastrophe (Elizabeth Kolbert) She also wrote The Sixth Extinction, which I loved!
9. The Big Picture (Sean Carroll)
10. Strangers in Their Own Land (Arlie Hochschild)
11. The New Jim Crow (Michelle Alexander)
12. Freedom is a Constant Struggle (Angela Davis)
13. We Should All Be Feminists (Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie)


What are you reading? I would love suggestions on other relevant reads!
Em

The Elephant in the Womb...I Mean Room...

I want to take a minute today to talk about how surprised I was to see that there were several women that I know personally who posted on social media in the last couple of days saying that they didn't feel like the Women's March was inclusive to all women. This honestly shocked me, and also shook me to my core because as much as I try, I can't fathom why a woman wouldn't be able to understand how important it is to have comprehensive reproductive rights!

My understanding is that the real concern some women have about this movement is that is advocating on behalf of those who are Pro-Choice. For a person who is Pro-life, I can see how this would make it seem as though you are not welcome or included in this movement. But I firmly believe that this isn't true. The real issue here is that bipartisan politics have made us all think that being pro-life and pro-choice are polar opposites.

This unnecessary but unsurprising labeling forces us to take sides. But how can we be expected to take such a black and white stance on an issue that is so subjective? Human life is involved and there is no way that one decision can be made in an office somewhere in Washington, that will be effective and right for every situation.

Pro-choice is not anti-life or pro-abortion. Being Pro-choice is acknowledging that abortion is a difficult, multi-faceted, complicated, and subjective issue that should not be regulated by the government. Being pro-choice is being in favor of a woman's right to choose what is best for her and her family in that specific situation. Are you really pro-life if you are in favor of bringing a child into this world where they are not going to be cared for in the best way possible?? What about if the fetus isn't viable or has a terrible illness that would bring pain and suffering to the parents and the child itself? Or if the life of the mother is at risk?? The point is, these decisions belong to the women who are EXPERIENCING them. Who are we to judge and regulate other peoples bodies?? No person has the right to control another persons decision to bring another life into this world.

If you are truly Pro-life, then it should be a priority to ensure that EVERYONE has access to affordable contraception, reproductive education, and healthcare. THAT is being pro-life. Not debasing and judging women you don't know about a decision that is already incredibly difficult.

The biggest difference that I see between people who are Pro-choice and Pro-life is the word CHOICE. I do not judge my friends who believe that no fetus should ever be aborted. But I do disagree with them. Does that mean that I advocate abortion in all situations? Of course not. But I do respect my fellow women enough to know that they know their bodies and their situations better than any politician in Washington does.

I would never judge a woman for getting an abortion, in any situation. I would also never judge a woman's decision to carry a baby to term, in any situation. And THAT is what being Pro-choice means to me. I respect you and your decisions. All I'm asking is that you do the same.

Let's take away the ridiculous coined terms 'Pro-choice' and Pro-life'....what are we left with? Thousands of unique, complicated situations that are being over-simplified, or just over-looked, by a bunch of politicians. We need to slow down, think, and truly understand what it is that we are arguing about.

I would like to be given the freedom to decide what is best for my body and my family, and I want all women to have that same freedom. Simple.

Sunday Routines

For me, Sunday's are a day to prepare mentally and literally for the week ahead. I love to start the week with a clean house and nothing to worry about chore-wise because, lets be honest, if it doesn't get done over the weekend I'm definitely not going to get to it during the week.

Laundry gets washed and folded and sometimes even put away! The dishes are washed, floors vacuumed and swiffered, groceries are stocked up, and I organize my work planner for the week. Is this borderline OCD? Probably. Do I love doing it anyway because I'm crazy? Yep. Does that mean it's definitely OCD? Most likely. Do I have more questions than answers? Always.

On Sundays when the weather is nice enough, I will also wash all of the floor mats and linens and spray them with my home made essential oil blend (usually peppermint, lavender, orange oils) to promote peaceful energy aaaand get rid of any doggy smells. We also diffuse oils and open up the windows to get some fresh air flowing. That always makes sure the house smells clean and homey for the week.

One of the best things I think you can do to start the week off on a positive note is to put clean sheets on Sunday night. Maybe it's just me, but I always sleep better on clean sheets. Lavender pillow spray is also pretty great ;)

The real estate market is so intense this time of year and it makes a huge difference for me to not have to worry about too many chores during the week so Sunday's have become a little refuge for me to sort through everything and plan for the week ahead. Obviously with 4 animals, vacuuming and swiffering are not just a once a week thing, but doing a big scrub down shrinks those dust bunnies down exponentially.

Today I was actually a little bit surprised when I opened up all of the windows because it feels, smells, and sounds like Spring! I know were a couple of months away from the first day of Spring but NC has the weirdest weather. Also, global warming. Anyway, there are birds everywhere and the air feels crispy with not a hint of humidity. Perfect day for getting some fresh air flowing through the house.

Now, I know I'm not the only person with a crazy routine...what are some of the things you do to get ready for the week ahead? I'm always open to suggestions (and ways to make your house smell good when you are constantly surrounded by fur babies)

Kitchen cleaned, & oatmeal chocolate chip cookies in ze oven
 because the wedding is over and I am eating everything.

Thank god for my planner, otherwise I would never know what is happening.
Also, email inbox is empty hollerrrr

Remembering to water the plants is not high on the priority scale but even Fergus the Fiddle Leaf Fig
gets some love on Sundays

Diffusing a blend of peppermint, lavender and sweet orange. Smells sooo yummy!

Clean(ish) floors and some natural light to get some good vibes going ;)

Happy Sunday!
E

Inaugural Blues

In honor of the inauguration of our 45th president today I want to make a few things clear, because I love this country and believe that is is ALREADY great...

1. I will continue to uphold the belief that all men and women are created equal.

2. I will not judge anyone based on their skin color, religion, socio-economic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, green card status, or any other arbitrary demographic. 

3. I will do everything in my power to counter hate with love and acceptance. 

4. I will work harder to understand those who have different opinions from me. 

5. I will be more involved in politics and government on a local level. 

6. I will continue to recycle, support the movement towards keeping our planet healthy, and educating myself on ways to be a better earth dweller. 

7. I will hold my representatives accountable for their actions and speak out when they don't hold everyones best interest at heart. 

8. I will speak out for, and stand by those who are attacked and discriminated against by this president and his cabinet. 

9. I will do better about staying up to date on current events locally, nationally, and abroad, because education is the only way we can fight against those who try to keep our eyes shut to the real issues. 

10. I will be marching LOCALLY in Raleigh tomorrow in the Women's March! 

Hope to see you there!

"When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty." -Thomas Jefferson

Wedding Thoughts: My Bridesmaids

Wedding weekend was a success! Everything went so smoothly and felt so completely organic, I honestly couldn't have asked for a better experience. There are so many emotions you go through on your wedding day, and it can be so difficult to stay in the moment and really feel whats happening but thanks to my wonderful bridesmaids, I never felt overwhelmed or anxious (in a bad way).

I keep trying to think back over everything that happened by my brain is completely foggy! My sister-in-law Maggie told me this morning that it will come back to me in a couple of days after I recover! All I know is that I felt surrounded by love and happiness the whole time.

A huge part of what made this weekend so special was having these amazing women with me. I have been very lucky in my life to always have wonderful girlfriends. There are few things more important to me than my support system of strong (independent haha), kind, intelligent, hilarious, and loyal women. These 8 ladies have been with me through ups and downs, highs and lows, thick and thin. I've known some of them my whole life, and some for only a few short years. But each one of them has been there for me countless times and contributed to who I am as a person. 

Getting to share my special day with you ladies was incredible. You reminded me to be calm and enjoy everything. I never felt worried about anything going wrong, and every time I started to get flustered you were there to smile encouragingly and hand me a large glass of alcohol! I love the imagery associated with how we line up and stand during the ceremony, because it is perfectly descriptive of how I always feel like you guys have my back and are standing there to support me and uphold me with your friendship. I can't wait to continue celebrating with all of you over the years as we grow and change <3

These are only a few of the pictures taken on our cell phones this weekend so get ready to be continuously bombarded over the next few days... #noshame

A Hygge Home

Everything seems to slow down when it snows. The air is so quiet and still and pleasantly muffled. I love how immediately cozy the house becomes. As someone who is obsessed with creating cozy spaces and can't function in an environment that isn't warm and welcoming, I find snow days to be utterly perfect. It's the perfect time to pop in a movie, throw something in the crock pot, or just sit down and read a good book. There's just something about knowing that outside it is cold and wet and gross but inside everything is comfy and inviting.

This morning when I woke up the ground was covered with about 4 inches of fluffy snow, and more snow was still falling. I opened up the curtains so that I could watch the snow fall and the people walk by with their kids and dogs while I made a cup of tea and fed the dogs. It made me think of an article I read recently about the Scandinavian term 'hygge'.

Hygge translates closely to mean 'well-being' but there actually isn't a direct english word that embodies its full meaning. Hygge (pronounced "hoo-gah") can also translate to mean 'cozy' and represents finding happiness and comfort in every day things. This is definitely becoming a bandwagon trend but I am thrilled that there is finally a term that describes what I strive to achieve every day. Because hygge isn't just about faux fur throws, candles, and minimalist decor. It's also about simple gatherings of friends and family. It invokes a sense of togetherness, nesting, and simple pleasures like; having a casual dinner party, grilling out and drinking wine, and laughing and lounging with a close group. It's casual, comfortable, and cozy. I love it.

The best part about hygge is that you don't have to do anything fancy to achieve it, and there is no right or wrong way to do it because it is a feeling. The older I get the more I appreciate having friends over for a casual, easy going night instead of going out and partying. If everyone brings a bottle of wine, hunkers down on the couch, and plays board games and chats into the late hours that is perfect to me. So, in this new year, I plan on continuing my love affair with hygge and throwing many more dinner parties and game nights. How's that for a new years resolution?? More wine. More late night chats. More laughter and love. More friends and family.

Cheers :)

How do you incorporate the idea of hygge in your home?

Welcome 2017!!!

Welp, it's officially 2017! I feel like I say this every time I write a post but, I CANT BELIEVE HOW QUICKLY TIME FLIES!! So much has been going on with wedding planning, the holidays, work, and just crazy old life in general.

December was a complete blur. My mom and I have been spending a lot of time on the last few details before the wedding which IS NEXT WEEK. Wut. It's insane. I feel like J and I just got engaged and picked a date, and now the wedding is here and I am soooo excited. We are officially entering into 'wedding week'. And what would the week before our wedding be without Snowmageddon Part II. This weekend Durham is under a winter weather state of emergency and we are expecting to get up to 8 inches of snow (which is a HUGE deal for us southerners!) I'm so excited, I hope we get a ton of snow but that is manages to melt by like Wednesday of next week haha. After all, we can all remember what happened a couple of years ago when the OG Snowmageddon hit...

Okay, so the AT-AT walker wasn't really there but that is a legit car fire. We just can't handle our snow down here, but hopefully people will remain a little calmer this time since most of the snow wont hit until after 5 today. Will keep the (un)interested masses abreast of snow progress on snapchat as it occurs ;) You're welcome.

Christmas this year was spent in Port Angeles with my wonderful in-laws. I had never been to Washington state before and was absolutely blown away with the beauty of it. I've never seen so much green in my life! Even in areas where snow covered the ground all of the moss, and trees, and plants were still alive with breathtaking greenery. It was incredible. It was also the first time that all 8 of us kids were together, and I can honestly say that I have won the sibling in law lottery! It was such a wonderful time and our hosts (Kevan and Rebekkah) were incredibly brave and generous to put up with all of us for the holidays, especially since they have spent the last year renovating their beautiful victorian home. They also organized a photoshoot out at Lake Crescent and the pictures are so wonderful (special shout out to M. Krueger Photography). Here are a couple of my favorites:

Coming back after our Washington trip and ending up with a horrible flu was not the way I wanted to ring in the New Year but I'm relieved that I am finally over it and ready to go into our Wedding Week with full steam ahead, aaaand maybe do some midnight sledding tonight!! Unfortunately, J and I did not get to spend New Years together since he had to get back to TX for training and I had to get back to NC for last minute wedding stuff, but I got to go out with friends for a little while and spend some time with them. The night ended and I was unimpressed, especially since I was sober due to the amazing quantities of cough syrup i was taking. However I still managed to karate kick someone in the face and stay up till 3 so there's that. Helloooooo 2017! 

Now, I am going to make some soup and bake some cookies while I wait for this snow to begin!

Happy New Year everyone!!!

E