5 Things

As some of you know, I am participating in the Jenna Kutcher Instagram challenge which is geared towards streamlining your online presence and cultivating genuine participation within the blogging community. It has been an incredible experience to 'meet' and learn about so many different bloggers from all over the world and their brands! I think we are all aware that social media can be a double edged sword especially when it comes to appreciating and living in the real world in real time without having to whip out our phones every two seconds. This challenge encourages everyone to be their true, genuine, authentic self on social media instead of putting a filter on your life, and embrace others for doing the same. Sure, we all like looking at pretty pictures of tiny puppies in teacups surrounded by a sea of peonies, or a skinny tanned girl doing yoga on a beach in Hawaii while she drinks a gluten free piña colada and the sun sets majestically in the background. BUT! Where is the connection there? Where is the personality, and the depth, and the humanity for the love of god!?!?

I know that I follow a lot of those accounts on Instagram, but for the most part those accounts are what I call 'scrollers' because I look at them and scroll right on by without reading their post or clicking the links or caring what is happening at all. They are JUST pretty pictures. But my favorite accounts, the blogs I've been following for years, are the people who are so genuine in their online presence that you can't help but be like, 'yes! I have felt that same way!'. They are the bloggers who let you know that they are having a bad day because they had to deal with 5 diaper explosions while shopping in Target. They are the ones who are chugging wine while discussing what happened on the Bachelor. They are interested in traveling, learning, bettering our world, and also just going to the grocery store, finding a good deal on Lululemon, and encouraging others to be themselves too.

The disconnect our world faces right now between our online presence and real life is crazy! People feel more isolated and unhappy than ever and it's because we have gotten so far away from reality, or maybe we have just changed what 'reality' means. Regardless, I am trying to be more mindful of living in each moment and using my social media presence as a catalyst for expanding upon that real world experience.

So, now down to the nitty-gritty! Day 3 of the #jkinstachallenge was to pick five major facets of your self and share them on your account. This was tough because I feel like everyone has so many unique, and important things that make up who they are as a person. But when it comes down to it, these are the five, biggest parts of me that make me who I am...

1. Family: Obviously this was going to be number one because my family is amaaaazee! They have always been there for me through everything. Whether I was living around the corner or on the other side of the country. They have supported my harebrained ideas, loved me when I have failed, and encouraged me to be true to myself no matter what. My parents and sister have been my constant companions and without them I wouldn't be who I am today (sorry guys, if that sounds like an insult!)

2. My Marriage: It's always hard to imagine another person coming into your life and being on the same level as your immediate family. Meeting and marrying J has been such a learning curve. We initially met at an NCSU football tailgate during my sophomore year and his freshman year in college. And let me just say that if you told me then that we would end up married, I would have thought you were INSANE. Welp, turns out that I am the insane one because here we are! And I am so happy that we ran into each other that day, even if he doesn't remember! Our relationship has completely changed me on some levels and made me more steadfast to my roots on others. J and I are so different in some respects but so similar in others. We have learned how to work our partnership into every day life and continue to grow together every day. Entering into a marriage truly is a beautiful act of self sacrifice and love (I mean that in the best way!). I have had to learn to navigate the tricky waters of being a Marine wife while still GRACEFULLY holding true to my somewhat liberal roots. And I have had to embrace the lifestyle of moving every couple of years and being far away from everything that is familiar and important to me. Which leads me to...

3. Being a military spouse: this is a complicated one for me. Growing up in an area that is known for its acceptance, non-judgement, and down right artsy fartsy-ness (not a word, I know), I had never been around the culture of a military lifestyle. Durham NC is a small lake of blue in a big, red state if you know what I mean! I honestly thought everyone in our military had a crew cut, chewed tobacco, and was the complete opposite of me on the political spectrum. So you can imagine what a shock it was for me to be thrown into such a different environment, I'm not going to lie, I was down right scared. But, I was surprised at the immediate and genuine outpouring of help and friendship from this amazing group of people I had never met. You always hear about how the military is like a second family, but I did not even come to close to comprehending what that meant until I experienced it. This group of women is part of my soul now. Every station we go to, our military family grows. These women are some of the most compassionate, hilarious, REAL people I have ever met. Everyone is so different, and so strong in their own ways that I feel like a huge dum-dum for ever having thought of this group of people as being so one-dimensional (but that is what our 'bubbles' do to us). Anyway, I can proudly say that being a military spouse has made me a stronger, more independent, and self-confident person and I wouldn't trade it for anything!

4. Travel: As a homebody with a bad case of wanderlust I feel like I am constantly feeling this push-pull of wanting to nest and stay home, but also to travel and see the world and experience everything that is out there! I've been lucky to get to travel internationally several times in my life and my list of places to visit grows by the day. Each time I open a new book, or meet a new person, another place appears at the top of my list. I love the idea of being able to see the world but have a home-base to come back to. It's all about balance. Finding that perfect space between cultivating your home and growing as a person through seeing the world. And lastly (at least as far as the top 5 go)...

5. Yogaaaaa: This is a relatively new facet to my life, especially compared to some people who have been practicing yoga for decades! But it could also be labeled, spirituality on my list. Because you see, I did not understand what yoga actually was! I was one of those people who thought yoga was just asana, or the postures of yoga. I didn't realize that the postures were just a small part of what yoga actually is. I started my in-depth journey with yoga this past January in order to have a job when we move overseas this winter. I had no clue what I was getting into. It is like everything suddenly makes sense, like I was looking through a foggy window before and trying to figure out myself on a spiritual level but could never quite see through the glass. I have always identified as a spiritual person and loved learning about religion and cultural perception throughout school (anthro major, go figure) and have always felt that, if I'm being honest, all of the religions of the world are just different doors to the same room. So finding a spiritual practice that places everyone on an even playing field and is inclusive to all religions and sects and creeds felt like finding a little bit of light in what can be a very dark world :)

So, those are 5 of things that make me, me at my very core. What are your five things that make you, you?

Love and Light
Em

A New Chapter: NC to FL to TX

Ya'll. I made it to North Carolina and J made it to Texas. It has been a long couple of weeks getting ready for this move, but we are both settling in nicely and appreciate everyones help with the move both physically and emotionally!

I have never been good with change. I love the idea of it and crave it when things get too monotonous. But when it comes time to actually pick up and go, I dig in my heels. This move was no exception, and the added stress of not being able to move together didn't help. But after unpacking and getting into the swing of things again around here I've started to appreciate that we made the right choice.

Today was my first day back in the office. I even got to go show a house with my mom (a REAL HOUSE, not a trailer) PRAISE!! I am not made for the life of a housewife, at least not right now. The last three months have been so incredibly tough for me not having a career, and I can't believe how motivated I am to work 24/7 right now. At least now I can hit the ground running and make the most of my months here in Durham so that J and I can save money and I won't drive us both crazy with my bored antics! I'm definitely a lucky girl to be marrying someone who appreciates my mania and encourages me to do whatever makes me happy <3

There are already so many things going on...Wedding appointments are on the books as we only have 3 months until the big day, the Trinity Park House Tour is in a couple of weeks, the Durham housing market is not slowing down anytime soon, I just got my Durham Pure Barre Membership up and running, and this Saturday I am 'running' a 10k (if I die, Brittney is to blame). I can not wait to get back into a groove again. The moving process really throws off any chance of having a normal schedule, and I am a planner so that never works out well for anybody.

So, here's to the next chapter of our crazy, peripatetic life!

Stay tuned...

Picture that James texted me when we first started dating haha

Adult Disney

Ever since moving to Florida for flight school a year ago, J and I have been trying to pick a weekend to go to Disney World and have the ultimate adult Disney Weekend. Both of us went as young children but hadn't been in 10+ years, so as you can imagine, we felt very strongly about this trip. However, with everything going on down here we never managed to get enough leave or have all of our ducks in a row to make the trip happen.

But! Last week when I got back from NC, J handed me an envelope and told me to open it...and inside were two 4 day park hopper passes that he had gone out and gotten, spur of the moment, for us to use this weekend! I miiiight have the best fiance ever.

MAJOR. Bae. Points.

Needless to say, if there is one thing more magical than Disney World as a child, it's Disney World as a childless adult. We only had two days so we made the most of it by doing Disney Springs for dinner and shopping Friday night, Blizzard beach and Epcot on Saturday, and Magic Kingdom (my fav) on Sunday morning. We definitely didn't get to do everything we wanted to do but luckily we have two days left to you at some point in the near future!

If you are looking for a super fun trip to take as an adult to stir up your inner child, or you just love rides, water parks, and happiness, you need to do an adult disney trip. Not to mention...you can drink beer at the parks when you are old. BOOM. You're welcome.

So, here are some pics from our epic Disney weekend...and yes, we wore mouse ears.

Magic Kingdom!

Being children at Blizzard Beach

Obligatory Castle Pic

Me forcing J to take a car selfie 

Found my veil. Done.

Random people we took shots with at Epcot

Epcot

Sunday Morning in Milton

It's a brisk Sunday morning here in Milton and the house is relatively quiet compared to how it's been the past couple of weeks. We were lucky to be able to spend the beginning of 2016 with dear friends and family who have since moved on to their next adventures. And although, it was wonderful having a house full of the people we love, it has been really nice with just the two of us the last couple of days. Right now the only sounds I can hear are the dryer humming, the Panthers game playing in the living room, and the clicking of my keys as I type. Utter peace. 

We woke up and made a huge Sunday morning feast of pancakes, coffee, and hash browns, and ate them while watching a couple of episodes of the X-files (#itsthelittlethings)!! So nerdy, but so wonderful haha :) Today will definitely be a day of relaxation, sports watching, and tidying up the house after the non-stop action of the last few weeks. 

There's always something exciting but a little bit sad about the new year. A whole year has come and gone. All of your accomplishments, regrets, memories, and changes from the previous year seem weirdly far away on this side of January first. It can be a little bit daunting looking a whole new year right in the face! You just never know whats going to happen! I'm getting quickly used to the fact that marrying a Marine means I will never have much control over our life, but that doesn't mean that the choices we make each day don't impact our lives greatly. We have been so fortunate to be surrounded by such an amazing and empowering support group. Through flight school, my real estate business, and our new neighborhood, we have met incredibly lovely people down here and I feel so blessed that, despite what can be a very isolating situation, we find ourselves flooded with love and encouragement. 

It's going to be an exciting year. The real estate market is in full swing, our wedding planning is full steam ahead, and flight school seems to be flying by with alarming speed (no pun intended). Living in the moment, appreciating each day for what is it, and always looking for the good in every situation will be my mantra this year! I know it will go by in the blink of an eye, just like last year, but I want to live each moment fully and bask in the excitement of this time in our lives!! 

With that being said, let's all travel, learn, love, eat, fly, laugh, read, dance, & live our way through 2016 with open hearts and minds, and hopefully through our actions, thoughts, and words, create a happier and more peaceful world for all of us to live in.

<3 Em

Recently In Photos

Happy 2016!
This year has been amazing so far. We already have so much to celebrate and be excited for! Kevan, my soon to be brother in law, got his wings of gold as a Coast Guard aviator which was so fun to be a part of. We are very proud of him and Rebekkah, and so excited for their next adventure in Washington state even though we are going to miss them a lot :) Our awesome friends (and roommates) Indy & Dustin are also about to embark on their next adventure in Jacksonville since Dustin has also recently winged! It will be a very bitter sweet couple of weeks as a lot of our friends will be PCS'ing to their next duty station, but one of the unique parts of the military life is having friends all over the world. And even though it is hard to watch the people you love move away, it's amazing to me how those friendships are able to span the miles and years. 

Another wonderful thing we have been celebrating non-stop since Christmas is our engagement. I still can't believe how lucky I am to have found James and I can't wait to marry him!! However, I am SHOCKED at how many details go in to planning a wedding...
For someone who is super OCD and annoyingly organized, I am struggling big time with planning this thing haha Thank god for my mother who is basically planning the entire thing. I think what I am the most excited about, other than marrying James of course, is having all of our family and friends in one place celebrating with us! It honestly warms my entire heart and I can't stop smiling when I think about all of the wonderful people we are blessed to have in our life. 

So, with all of that being said, here is our new year in photos :)

10 Of My Favorite Things Right Now

In the spirit of the holidays I've been thinking about all of the things I'm thankful for. Of course the list is insane! There are just too many wonderful, kind, and amazing people in our life to forget how lucky we are :) We have made so many friends down here in Florida and even though we're going through our first wave of friends PCS'ing away from us I am so thankful for these friendships and know that we have a support network that distance cannot break. (All the feels!)

So, with that being said AND with the obvious exception of friends and family, here are 10 of my favorite things right now...

One: Essie's holiday glitter nail polish <3 
Two: Sipping delicious christmas blend coffee
Three: Re-watching all the episodes of Peaky Blinders before season 3 comes out!
Four: Getting to spend time baking in our amazing kitchen
Five: All of the beautiful holiday posts from my favorite bloggers :)
Six: It's finally cold enough to wear hats!
Seven: The folksy holiday music channel on spotify
Eight: Shopping for the perfect gift for all of my people
Nine: Watching christmas movies with J in the evenings (even though I ugly cry during each and every one)
Ten: The incredible support EM Realty has gotten from our community!

What are your "10 Things" this cozy Friday evening?
<3 EM

Christmas Tree Lights & Adorable Dogs

The tree is up! And after much debate about whether we should use the wrapping around method or the weaving up and down method, the lights are on the tree too! Our ornaments are en route from NC and should be here any day now. It is officially our first christmas in our new home :) I love spending our evenings on the couch, drinking hot tea, and watching Christmas movies in the glow of the tree. The whole house smells like the holiday season!

It's even getting kind of chilly down here in good old Florida! We actually had to turn on our heat yesterday, well, maybe we didn't haaave to, but in the wise words of a random female extra on New Girl, 'it's 65 degrees and I'm freezing!' 

But you know it IS December and I would really like to break out the cute sweater dresses and scarves. While we were unpacking I discovered 4 boxes that remained unopened from the last move and they contained all of my cold weather shoes, coats, pants, you name it! It was like Santa came early! Just one of the random perks of having to move so much I guess.

Here are a few photos of our holiday decor so far...and maybe a couple of random dog pics...

Getting our tree! They were all brought down from Boone NC!

Hooray for NC trees :)

Yes, I only put lights on the front of the tree because it was heavy, I didn't have enough lights, and I got a little bit lazy, oops.

It also might be a little crooked because I attempted to adjust it while James was flying, but Copper still likes it!

So does baby Tuck! (sidenote: look at his crazy horse legs!! So cute)

Alright, I'm done posting pictures of our dogs by the tree. FOR NOW! But you better believe this next month will have a lot more to come :)

What are some of your favorite tree decorating tips and traditions??

E

Our crazy, hectic, amazing, hilarious, messy, awesome week.

Holy moly. This week has been absolutely ridiculous. I've heard the saying, 'when it rains, it pours' but now I believe it with all of my heart! First off I would like to say that J and I have AMAZING friends. There is no way we would have gotten through this week without you guys! You helped us move, unpack, gave us your boxspring, brought us food, and kept us laughing and having fun during this whole experience!

On that note, let's jump right in! On Tuesday, we closed on our house. I can't count the number of closings I've been to in my life, and that moment when my clients get the keys to their new house is always my absolute favorite part of the whole buying experience. But this time it was us who got the keys, and I am happy to say that it is even more amazing being on the receiving end! This was also my first experience with the new TRID laws as a realtor (yes, I was our real estate agent haha) and I have to say that our lender and title company were informed and on top of things the whole time. It was a definite learning experience though, and I'm glad that we were the guinea pigs so that now I know what to tell my clients to expect :)

One thing that J and I have been laughing about all week is how crazy it is that we are 'adulting' so hard right now. I never thought I would be so excited about appliances...but let me tell you, getting that washer and dryer hooked up was probably the highlight of my day! It can be a little scary when you do something as permanent as buying a house, or putting down roots in a new place, but it is also so very exciting. It's important to realize that as young twenty-somethings it IS a good idea to start building a foundation for your success, but that that doesn't mean you have to become a boring old, suit and tie wearing, stick up the butt 'adult'. That notion is completely archaic and stereotypical, and if you have the resources to build equity in your life now, go for it! You can still have a kegger in your brand new 'adult' home, you can decorate it the way you want, you can rent it out for a couple of years and then sell it for more than you bought it. 

Basically what I am saying is that, we love our new home and it is crazy to think that this is where we are at this point in our lives. You never really know what direction your life will take you, especially when the military is involved. All you can do is jump in with both feet and enjoy the ride!

Speaking of jumping in with both feet and enjoying the ride...

After a lot of thought and consideration (and advice from trusted friends & family) I have decided to open my own real estate brokerage while we are here in Florida. My brief stint with Keller Williams was great and I learned A LOT, but in my heart I know that going back to my small business roots will allow me to better serve my community and provide my clients with a more hand on and personalized experience. I'M SO EXCITED!! I absolutely can not wait to continue building this business venture and see where it goes. 

Overall, this week was completely insane. We still have boxes everywhere, I can't find any of my leggings, and the battery in J's car may be dead...BUT we found the coffee maker, all the animals made it un-traumatized, and we finally have a bed frame. Life is good.

What would make me reaaaally happy right now is if we could go get our christmas tree, but even I can admit that it is a little too soon. So, for now, I will content myself by diffusing my christmas blend oils and burning my frasier fir tree candles :)

I hope that everyone had a great week! The holidays are officially upon us and 2015 is coming to an end. There has been a lot of negativity and violence in the world in recent months, and my hope for all of you is that you continue to see the light in dark times. Treat everyone with respect no matter their religion, skin color, language, or beliefs, be thankful for what you have, help those in need, and always tell your people that you love them. Life is too short to give in to the darkness, and it's important to remember that every single act of kindness, no matter how small, can make a huge difference. 

Happy Friday <3

flexoffers

Happy 240th Birthday Marines

This weekend we got to take a break from the packing fiasco and celebrate the 240th birthday of the Marine Corps at the annual birthday ball. It was such a good time (even though we only made it to the pre-ball) and it was nice to let loose and celebrate with friends, both new and old. The music was good, everyone looked beautiful, and we all ate and drank more than we should have! 

It's nice to get super dressed up every once in a while and spend the day pampering yourself. I don't normally go all out on things like this but on Saturday I did the whole shebang; spray tan, hair, makeup...I even shaved my legs. You're welcome. Haha. Seeing J in uniform is definitely the best part though. I'll tell you one thing, I've never in my life been a uniform chaser, but seeing him in his dress blues makes me understand where they are coming from! Soooo handsome <3

We had a great evening, and ended the night at the whiskey bar, eating french fires as a night cap. Not too shabby ;) 

Today, after recuperating and having a huge brunch with friends, we tried very hard to 'adult' and went to look at appliances for the new house. It is insane how long the list of things you need in a new house is. We had to completely leave the store to regroup! I've worked with enough first time home buyers to know that this process is overwhelming but being on this side of the transaction I'm learning that the actual purchase is just the tip of the iceberg as far as making a house a home goes!

But we are SO excited! The countdown is at t-2 days! That's insane. It's also insane how much we still need to pack. Of course instead of packing right now I'm making home made buttermilk biscuits and blogging, and J is playing Fallout 4. We're very productive and can't be disturbed right now, obviously. 

The next couple of weeks are going to be incredibly busy and hectic but I'm going to diffuse my holiday oils, listen to christmas music, pack like a mad woman, and get it over with as quickly as possible so we can start my favorite time of the year!!

Woo-hoo! Hope everyone else had a great weekend, stay tuned for the next bit of madness...

E

Random Thoughts On A Tuesday Night

When J and I first started dating we probably went two whole dates before he even mentioned he was commissioning into the Marine Corps. Not that it would have meant anything to me. I grew up in a super liberal town and had very little exposure to military life of any kind before him. When he invited me to his commissioning I actually had to google what that meant because I honestly had no idea. I ended up not even going when I found out what a big deal it was because I thought it was too soon to meet his family! 

That is how my slow and ever-growing knowledge of Marine Corps life began. To this day I still have to google things regularly; acronyms, student aviator slang, basic military terms...you name it. I do A LOT of nodding and smiling when we hang out with the other aviators and their families. And a lot of googling when we get home!

It's a very delicate balance because it is hard for us to understand what they are going through as military personnel, and its hard for them to understand our perspectives as civilians. Things can get messy very quickly when you aren't careful to remember how different these two converged paths are. 

There are also a lot of similarities though. The sense of pride in what our partners are doing is contagious. I am so thankful for the men and women who defend our country and after becoming friends with so many of them and seeing them for the people they truly are on a personal level, I am even more impressed with them.

The strength that you must have during the less than normal situations that arise in this line of work is another thing that both partners must possess (to different degrees, and in different ways, of course). It has taken strength that I didn't even know I had to leave everything behind and move down here with J, especially as an un-married military girlfriend. The stigma surrounding girlfriends in the military is unbearable at times. Some people treat you like you are a second class person, and can almost act like they are sorry for you. You also have to accept that there are a bunch of hoops you have to jump through just to do normal things like get on base, be your partners emergency contact, and even go to certain functions. 

I definitely didn't know how difficult this journey would be when we started it. But I have found myself in the process, or at least a part of me that I didn't know was there. I've learned that it's okay to not know exactly what is going to happen in the future. That being alone can be a good thing sometimes, especially since I really do believe that if you aren't happy with yourself, you will not be happy with anyone else either. I've learned that its okay to feel lonely or sad, but that sometimes you just have to pull yourself up and make the best of a less than awesome situation. I've learned how to make new friends quickly, even though I miss my old ones immensely, and at first I couldn't bare the thought of having to start over without knowing anyone. 

I've RE-learned that family is everything, whether that family is by blood or not, and that taking care of the people you love is the most important thing in life because no matter WHERE you are, those relationships are what carry you through the hard times and make the wonderful times the best. 

I started writing this post because tonight is one of the nights when J has to be at work super early so he is staying with his sister who lives closer to base. I was suddenly very aware of how alone I am down here in Florida. The house was too quite without the sounds of him blowing up video game aliens (or whatever) and I couldn't seem to remember what I DO at night! Isn't that weird? I mean, who does anything at night? We watch TV, hang out on our computers, read books. None of these things require J to be home with me, but it just felt scary and lonely for a minute. Then I realized that I lived alone before we moved in together so I was being ridiculous. But this moment also led me to remember that there will be times when he is gone, like, for a REALLY, REALLY long time, and I will have to be okay with being alone, potentially in another country.

This is one of the things that is not a normal relationship problem, but it's a challenge that I chose by default when I chose J. I have to remind myself that I am not alone in this, and that I am surrounded by very wonderful people to who DO understand what its like being with someone in the military. I also have wonderful friends back home who have NO CLUE what is happening but are so accepting and sweet and wonderful to me as I navigate this life that I just want to squeeze them all to death! 

The point is, maybe this isn't the easiest or the simplest path to have chosen, but I chose it. And it is my path, wiggles, and hills, and loop-de-loops and all! And I know that I can rest easy knowing that I am surrounded, near and far, by an amazing support group that will be there, come what may :) and that will make all the difference!

Now, I am going to watch Netflix, snuggle with my dogs, and play on Pinterest while having a large glass of wine like any self-respecting twenty six year old should be doing on a random Tuesday night. 

E

10 Things I Love About Sundays

Sunday's are funny because they feel like an ending and a beginning. The weekend is over and a new week is about to begin. It's a time for switching your lazy, fun weekend brain off and starting to gear up for the work week ahead. It's very easy to focus on the negatives of a Sunday; having to get up early the next day, not being able to watch Netflix for hours in a row, curbing your Pinterest habit. 

But, I also love Sunday's because they are so cleansing. There is something very therapeutic about cleaning the house, getting the fridge stocked for the week, organizing my work stuff and setting it out, getting something good cooking on the stove, and then being able to sit back and relax in the evening for a little while before bed. 

As I write this post, the doggies are snoozing by our feet, J is studying and watching a football game on T.V, some amazing smelling chicken and rice soup is simmering away on the stove, and I'm and relaxing and drinking some hot, peppermint tea . It's pretty perfect. 

Starting the week off on a good foot can make all of the difference in the world, and out of all of the days of the week, I find Sunday the easiest day to both fall off the positive bandwagon and get going with a really great, positive mindset. However, a lot of people don't think of happiness as a choice, and of course this choice is more difficult for some than others, but it is still an active, participatory thing. 

With that being said, here are 10 of my favorite things about Sunday...

1. Making a big pot of something yummy that we can munch on for the next few days
2. Opening the windows and letting the cool, evening breeze blow through the house
3. Reading what the next prompt is in The 52 Lists Project and brainstorming my answer
4. Sitting down after getting the house clean and ready for the week (smells like orange oil!)
5. Freshly washed sheets and blankets to snuggle down into
6. Scrolling through my favorite blogs & Pinterest posts in my coziest sweatpants
7. Turning on my twinkle lights, lighting those pumpkin spice candles, and reading a good book (#basic, I know)
8. Drinking a cup of hot tea after dinner and watching New Girl reruns with J on our couch
9. Calling my family in Durham to say Hi and catch up with them (even though we talk way more than once a week)
10. The feeling of a fresh, new week ahead of me with infinite possibilities!

I hope everyone had a great weekend, and that your Sunday has been as restful and relaxing as mine :)

E

*P.S This Weeks Prompt For The 52 Lists Project Is...

List all of your favorite things about fall.

A Little Piece Of Peace

Saturday morning. There are few things better than waking up slowly to the smell of coffee and knowing that there is nothing on the schedule for the day that HAS to be done. 

Unless of course you count going to a book store, studying a little bit for the realtor exam, drinking MORE coffee, and maybe going for a run in the evening...all good things. 

The past couple of weeks there has been a wonderful sense of calm in my life. Maybe it has to do with finally having a job I enjoy, one that challenges me in a good way. Or the fact that it always takes a while to get into the swing of things when you move. Whatever it is, my sleep has been sounder, my days have gone by faster, and I just feel less anxious about things in general (which is rare for me haha). For every big change in life there is an adjustment period, a time when it is easy to doubt yourself, but without these changes it would be impossible to grow and evolve as a person. 

The older I get the more I realize that there are somethings in life that you just can not control, and that your energy is better spent working on the things that you can control and change. Especially now that the Marine Corps is a part of my life through James, Ive learned that everything must be written in pencil and that plans change. Being a person who finds comfort in routine and having control over situations this has been a huge wake up call! But in a way it has been liberating too, because it allows me to (whether I like it or not...) let go of things a bit more and just go with the flow. No perfectly laid plan will ever work out the way you want it to, but there is beauty in challenge and those crazy little life messes that pop up when we least expect it :) 

So, as I sit here drinking coffee out of my Bull City mug and writing this post, I am content with the direction of my life but also excited because I know that everything could change in an instant, and all any one of us can do is be the best version of ourselves that we can be and weather the storms when they come. 

Hope everyone enjoys their weekend!

g r a t i t u d e & a t t i t u d e

the beginning of july has come and gone, and with it, a wonderful week of revels with family and friends. we celebrated the marriage of Kevan & Rebekkah (J's sister and brother-in-law) with a week-long extravaganza of seafood, music, funny stories, and heartfelt thanks as these two wonderful families came together and it was such a beautiful experience to be a part of! 

my parents were also in town during the wedding week so i was finally able to show them around pensacola and give them a glimpse into out little life down here. the name of this post is 'gratitude & attitude' because sometimes it takes a big event, like a wedding, to realize how much the little things in life matter. showing small, everyday bits of gratitude for the people and things in your life makes a huge difference in how you feel and carry yourself.

one of the big things that has been bringing me down recently was my job as a nanny here in pensacola. i unfortunately let the poison of that job filter into other aspects of my life and make me miserable. i honestly don't know what i would have done without the support of my amazing friends and family as i struggled to get out of that contract. i allowed my entire being to lose its light and just coming home and making dinner after a day at work became a chore. however, with the encouragement of james, my beautiful friends, and my awesome family, i decided to quit my job (yikes!),get my real estate license in florida, and continue selling houses down here as well as in nc!

today was my first 'unemployed' day and i have to admit that although liberating, it was a little nerve-wracking to realize i don't currently have a job! luckily, through connections we've already made down here, i have a job lined up with a real estate firm as soon as i complete my 72 hour online course. whew! talk about a relief!! sometimes you have to suck it up and make a change, be it a change in scenery, job, or attitude, and in this case i changed a little bit of all three. its scary making huge life changing choices, but without change there is no room for growth :)

as i sit here reflecting on how crazy the last week was, i am struck by the enormous gratitude i feel for the love and encouragement of the people in our life. no matter what is going on in life, through the highs and lows, the happiness and the sadness, the worry and doubt, and all of the beautiful, messy moments in between nothing would hold any meaning without these kooky, sweet people we call our family and friends. i wish it didn't take a job change and a wedding for me to realize this but sometimes we all need a little kick in the ass, right? 

i am also thankful for the super great NEW friends we were able to make because of Kevan and Rebekkah's marriage. its so crazy to think about how much light there is in the world, and how many wonderful new people and experiences are out there, if we could only just change the lens we look through and have a more open and positive attitude. so, in the wake of a truly awesome fourth of july week, i am making a promise to myself and all of you, to be a more positive, optimistic, and encouraging person DESPITE the darkness in life. because lets be honest, we've all got it pretty darn good! and if something isn't gelling with your vision of how you want your life to be, CHANGE IT!! FOR GOODNESS SAKE, just jump off that metaphorical cliff and take life by the horns! 

i hope that all of you had a great week! and if ever you feel some part of your life is not going in the right direction, remember that its never too late to change it. tell the people in your life that you love them, help a stranger, laugh A LOT, ask people how they are and CARE about the answer, and never ever ever settle for something less than absolute happiness!

<3 E
p.s James, im also thankful for the vacuum...those stairs would have been nightmare without it ;)

(this last photo was taken by Jerry Padgett Photography)