Welcome Home

A new month. A new home. We are finally moved into our apartment in Okinawa, and it feels so good to begin putting down some roots here! It's crazy to think back to all of the times we have moved during the last few years, basically the longest amount of time we have spent in one place since meeting is just under one year. Not to mention, both of us lived separate but equally gypsy-like lives during college and the years afterwards. So as you can imagine, I am pretty excited to be settling into a home that we will get to be in for three whole years (knock on wood)!

Currently, we only have our clothes and a few random household goods since we are still waiting on our big shipment to get here. But the loaner furniture isn't terrible and honestly I'm just so glad they have stuff to lend us in the first place it wouldn't matter to me if it was made out of cardboard! Hopefully our stuff will be here this month though and I can begin to put everything into its rightful place, you know like putting clothes in closets (...I packed all of our clothes in the unaccompanied baggage shipment, and all of the damn hangars in our household goods shipment, yay me).

We love our location even though there isn't a yard for the pups and we are on the third floor, because luckily there is a park right behind our place and hellooooo booty workout going up and down those stairs eight million times a day! See? Always a silver lining haha!

I can't wait to do a 'before and after' post for our apartment. There is definitely something to be said for moving into a new place sans everything you own because it gives you a lot of time to think about what you really need and where to put things. Basically what I'm saying is my Pinterest boards are on fire right now. And maybe the is nothing I can do to get rid of the horrible yellow tile in the kitchen and bathrooms but a few plants and some good lighting will hopefully distract from its less than desirable hue.

One of the best things about our apartment is that it is located right next to a bunch of great restaurants and bars, the beach and sea wall are only blocks away, and there are tons of other people living around us. Our view isn't too shabby either :)

So far life here in Okinawa is pretty great.

Stay tuned for progress updates and some awesome pictures from this weeks adventures on island!

Winesday Wednesday Chadonnay Day Week Month?

Happy Wednesday friendsssssssaaahhh!
Okay, obviously I've had too much coffee and need to take it down a notch. But, today is (as the Skimm so eloquently put it) the Winesday Wednesday before International Wine Day!! Welllll technically tomorrow is International CHARDONNAY Day, not Wine Day in general but I've never said no to a good excuse to have a glass (or two or five) of vino. Personally, I am waiting patiently for June 10th which is National Rosé Day, not to be confused with INTERNATIONAL Rosé Day which is on August 14th. That was a lot of information but stick with me! Here is nice little chart to make things easier. You're welcome *high five*

Anyway, now that The Bachelorette is back I think it's safe to say that most of us celebrate weekly wine day on Monday's but for the past couple of weeks I have been getting together with my sister in law to watch The Handmaid's Tale and woooooo if you don't need a glass of wine to make it through that show! I seriously cry angry tears an average of two times per episode but it's so good! And at least they aren't tears of emotional distress (cough cough Grey's Anatomy cough).

Now, I am definitely not a sommelier by any means, like my ideal wine is from Trader Joe's and it has a pretty label and is five dollars but I know what I like and love trying new varieties. When J and I lived in Florida during flight school some of the other wives and I would get together for Wine and Cheese nights regularly and just take a few hours to wind down, commiserate, and have some girl time. Those nights were seriously the BEST!

All we needed was a few bottles of wine, some cheese and crackers, and some blankets and the night would be made. I'm definitely not advocating alcoholism here by any means! But there is something so nice about sharing some wine with your people and embracing the hygge of a night with friends :) We definitely never had a dull wine night and I always left the night with sore abs from laughing so hard!

My current favorite wine genré if you will, is of the Sparkling Rosé variety because I am basic and it is refreshing and delicious when it is muggy and hot out.

So, in the spirit of Winesday Wednesday, International Chardonnay Day, and because I want to knooow...what are your favorite wines??

Let me know!

Cheers, Em

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?