Blogtober Day 8!

What are three lessons you have learned in the last year?

Narrowing this list down has been quite an adventure. The past year has been so incredibly full of important lessons and moments of clarity. I have days where I feel like I've got all of my ducks in a row, and I'm killing it as a mom, friend, wife, sister etc. And then there are other days where I never leave my house, and keeping the baby alive is the only goal of the day.

So honestly, the biggest lesson I have probably learned this year is; LET GO. Let go of all of the expectations that build up throughout the day about how you are supposed to be doing things. Let go of the self judgement and the feelings of not being good enough. Let go of the crippling need to control every little thing that happens (especially where the baby is concerned). Let go of the need to do everything myself so that it is 'done right'. Let go of the anxiety of doing things wrong for Ezmé. She will be fine if her routine is thrown off a little, or if she gags on a piece of food, or if we skip bath time once or twice. Just take a deep breath and let go a little.

The second important lesson I have learned this year is; ask for help when you need it. When we first brought Ezmé home I struggled horribly with anxiety and letting people come help me. Honestly, I didn't know how to ask for help because a lot of the time I didn't know what I needed. It was so overwhelming to realize that this tiny human was mine to raise and nurture and teach, that I could barely process what I needed to do outside of taking care of her. This anxiety made me hold on to controlling my environment to the point where I wouldn't ask anyone to help me do things because I needed them to be done a certain way. I've always been type A about the way things are cleaned and organized in my house, so this was a huge process for me, learning how to ask for help, allow the help to be given, and then to be okay with things being done differently than I would do them myself. Now, I'm finding it easier to ask for help because you start the realize that getting things done at all (like; laundry, dishes, cleaning the house, walking the dogs, going to the grocery store, everything) takes a damn village when you have a baby to take care of!

Thirdly, I have learned how important it is to appreciate and fully absorb each moment. Time goes so fast with babies. One minute they are a tiny little tree frog curled up on your chest, and the next minute they are crawling and laughing and playing. It is INSANE how easy it is to rush and miss these incredible moments, especially when you are multitasking which, let's be honest, we all do. The other day I was trying to get groceries out of the car and grab Ezmé, and get up all the stairs to our third floor apartment, when she put her head down on my shoulder and just snuggled in so tightly. You better believe I put down all of those bags in the middle of the parking lot, took off my backpack, and just gave her the biggest squeeze because I could tell she needed it and I did too. I'm trying to remember that I only have a certain amount of time to spend with her and love on her and make sure she knows that she is the most important thing in the world to me. I don't want her to think back and remember, my mom always kept the house spotless, or she brought all those groceries up in one go haha. All she cares about is spending time playing and reading and snuggling with her mama. And that is so important to remember. I read a quote today that said, 'you have a child forever, but you only have a baby for a year.'

Being grateful and in the moment is something that we all should focus on more. But I especially want to remember this lesson because the days may be long but the years are short, and I want to fill up my life with all of these little moments of happiness and love so that I can look back without regrets and know that I spent my time wisely enjoying my family.

What are the three most important lessons YOU have learned this year?

Blogtober Day 1

Welcome to #blogtober Day 1!
The topic for today is...
What is your main motivation in life??
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A broad answer to this question would be love. Love for my family. Love for my friends. Spreading love and kindness and just trying to make the world easier and more beautiful place to be a part of. Specifically, this tiny, miraculous human is my motivation. Because I want all of those things for her. I want Ezmé to grow up in a world that is kind, and peaceful, and compassionate for everyone. I want her to treat everyone with the respect and empathy that they deserve. I want her to understand that things aren’t always easy but that approaching life with a good outlook can make things better. I want her to know that she is fiercely loved and that she is perfect just the way she is. My motivation in life has completely been overtaken by this child because I want what all parents want; what’s best for their kid. There is a lot of ugliness in the world right now: school shootings, dirty politics, hate crimes, xenophobia, destruction of our planet. I want to raise a daughter who will strive to make these things better, because as much as I wish that she wouldn’t have to deal with these issues, her generation will be born into the middle of it. And I hope that they will rise to the occasion and fix the things that we couldn’t fix for them. 💙
#wherefeathersfall #motivation #journaling #awareness #babygirl #ezméluna #worldpeace #motherhoodrising #motherhood #motherhoodunplugged

Writing Prompts for #blogtober

Alright friends! It is October 1st, and that means it's the first day of #blogtober! Thank you so much for all of your topic suggestions, I am so excited to see what everyone has to say. In true fashion, I am a little late posting the list of prompts but without further ado here they are. Make sure to tag #wherefeathersfall and #blogtober when you participate so I can see your posts :)

Happy Writing!

1. What is your main motivation in life?

2. Who is your biggest inspiration, why?

3. What are five negative mindsets you could let go of?

4. Do you believe in spirit animals? What is yours?

5. What are your top 5 priorities in life?

6. What do you need more of in your life?

7. What is your biggest fear?

8. Three big lessons I've learned in the last year are...?

9. If you could have three wishes what would they be?

10. In what ways do you try to live a more sustainable life?

11. What do you think is the biggest issue the world faces?

12. What is the biggest challenge you currently face?

13. What is your best memory?

14. Which Hogwarts house would you be in? Why?

15. What book has had the biggest impact on you?

16. What are three things you said you'd never do as a parent? Have you done them?

17. One piece of advice you wish you could give your 18 year old self...

18. What is something positive in your life that you didn't have a year ago?

19. Where is your happy place?

20. Which fictional character do you relate to the most?

21. What would you do if you knew you would not fail?

22. When was the last time you did something for the FIRST time? What was it?

23. What do you consider to be your biggest achievement in life so far?

24. What are your top three goals for the next year?

25. What area of your life needs a little more attention?

26. What is the hardest part about motherhood? If you aren't a parent, what do you think it is?

27. Write a letter to your future self. 

28. How do you want to be remembered?

29. What three THINGS could you not live without?

30. Happiness is Homemade. What does this mean to you?

31. What is one thing you want to do daily for yourself?

A Little Dash Of Santosha

This morning I woke up and decided that, instead of running around like crazy person trying to get my to -do list of the day done, I was going to take a few minutes to ask myself what I needed right now. You know, really ask, what does my mind, body, and spirit need today in order to feel fulfilled and complete? The yoga principle of Santosha (or contentment) came to mind. Santosha isn't about being 110% ecstatically enthused and PERFECTLY happy with every single thing. It's much more simple and pure than all that. Santosha is simply being satisfied and at peace with where you are right now. It's actually an incredibly beautiful concept when you think about it. Sometimes it can feel like we, as humans, are always striving and reaching and fighting against something to achieve something else. And while goals and energy and movement are great things, we are generally terrible about balancing that super Yang energy with the more subtle Yin energies!

We are all guilty of having a day off or taking a holiday and having that sneaking suspicion that we are forgetting something, or that we should be DOING something. We feel guilty for sitting down and reading a book when we could be doing something 'productive'. Its really hard to get out of that mindset! Our culture tells us that slowing down and taking this time is lazy. But how is self care, contentment, and mindfulness lazy?

There does seem to be a shift culturally towards being more mindful and grateful, but there always seems to be a catch. A product to buy to make it possible, a book claiming to have all of the answers. Or a class you can take to learn how to be a better person. *insert eye roll here* Talk about over complicating one of the simplest, cheapest, most internal processes a person can experience! It might sound cheesy but everything you need to practice santosha is within you already, literally. In fact, if you are adding all of these extra things into the equation, you're kind of defeating the purpose.

It is as simple as taking a few minutes right when you wake up, before you get out of bed, maybe even before you open your eyes, and thinking of a few things you are grateful for right now. What things in your life are you truly and utterly thankful for? And then ask yourself, what is one thing that I could do today that would bring me contentment? Maybe you've been wanting to go play in your garden for an hour all week, or maybe you would love to sit on the porch and have a hot cup of coffee before work! Ask yourself these questions without judgement or guilt or anxiety. And then make the time to do it! It's that simple :)

When I asked myself what would make my heart truly content today, it said to leave my errands for tomorrow, and take the day to create. I wanted to spend my day baking, reading, writing, listening to  music, and doing yoga. So I did.

I realize how lucky I am to be able to take a whole day to observe santosha in such an extreme way. Being in Okinawa, I have the privilege of a very easy work schedule. I teach english online at night, and a few yoga classes during the week. I have much more free time than most and it's taken me a long time to get used to the idea and not feel guilty about it. That guilt has honestly probably caused me to under-appreciate this time and create busy work for myself to do so I feel more useful (whatever that means). It's a perfect example of how we as humans, identify our self worth with how busy we are. But being busy does not always equate with being productive or smart or worthwhile, and I think we all need to take a second look at how we are spending our time.

I would love for everyone to take more time to work on relationships, with others and ourselves personally. To ask the questions like, how can I make this world a better place? How can I be more kind? How can I feel more complete and happy with what I already have? Do I need all of these things in my house or does someone else need them more?

If we all took the time to observe santosha (contentment) every day, I think we would realize that there are a whole lot of extra, noisy, distracting things that we surround ourselves with but don't really need. In fact, we probably need the exact opposite.

So, take a deep breath, let go of all of that useless guilt and kinetic energy (just for a moment) and ask yourself what you truly need to be content and at peace with yourself, right now.

<3 Em

July Update

Where is this year going??? How the heck is it already July?? Why do I have so many questions?

Okay, glad I got that out of my system, but seriously. I can't get over how quickly time seems to fly when you have deadlines. I feel so much pressure to spend time with friends and family before we go. So much pressure to make the most of each little minute while also getting a million and one things done to leave. It sometimes feels like I have one foot here and the other already on the other side of the world. 

Living in the moment has been something I've always struggled with, I'm always planning and trying to be prepared for the future. But, if being a military spouse has taught me anything, it's that I am usually not in control and time spent worrying about the future is essentially time wasted. But of course you can't just turn that part of your brain off (no matter how much meditation you do, darn). 

As Hagrid once said, 'what's commin' will come, and we'll meet it when it does.' 

Thanks Hagrid, *insert eye roll here*

This month has been full to the brim! One thing I know I am doing right, in the midst of so much uncertainty, is spending my time doing the important things :) Family dinners, getting to see my sweet hubby on weekends, lots of yoga and reading and learning, mostly just spending good, quality time with my people. I want to take advantage of these things while I can, before we're overseas for the next few years. 

Our niyama focus for the month in my yoga teacher training in santosha, or contentment. This can be such a tough concept to deal with since contentment doesn't always equal satisfaction. Santosha means being okay with where you are in life. Now, that doesn't mean you get to just sit idly by and do nothing with your life! It just means that you focus more on the positives and accept that progress takes time. For example, I woke up this morning and was pretty sore from yoga yesterday. So I accepted the fact that today my practice would be a little slower and more restorative and that's okay!

Maybe I can't book our flights to Japan, find us a place to live, or get any freakin' information out of anybody until like two minutes before were expected to leave, and I have to observe santosha and just let things unfold in their own time and be grateful for what I do have and where I am now. 

Needless to say, this niyama is really hitting home for me right now! Living life with more intention also means being able to accept where you are right now without judgment, because where there is judgment there's no room for gratitude. 

So, for the remainder of the summer I plan on continuing to make the most of my time with friends and family, go on lots of adventures, do lots more yoga (time to get some teaching hours in!), and maintain as much patience and grace as I can! 

Having a sense of humor doesn't hurt either :)

What are some of the ways that you observe santosha in day to day life?

Always more to come...

Em 

living your yoga

Happy June Everyone!

Summer is almost upon us here in NC and you can feel it in the air. Literally, it's muggy AF. I just wrapped week five of yoga teacher training and am more than halfway through this journey to get my RYT200. It's been such a wonderful experience and I can honestly say that I don't even recognize my practice from before. It sounds cheesy, but I am changed. Learning just the tiny little bit that I have so far has been so incredibly expansive for my heart, mind, and soul. Not to mention my physical body!

Each month I have continued progressing through our pranayama (breath-work) and dharana/dhyana (concentration/meditation) plans which are building up our experience level and teaching us the different methods for these ancient practices. It has been so interesting to learn about the history and purpose of these techniques. I never really appreciated or understood the pranayama or meditation aspects of yoga until now. I am impatient and the thought of sitting still and 'wasting' time breathing used to horrify me! But now, I feel like I have opened a whole new part of myself and its all because of these yogic practices that I used to think were silly.

What so many people don't know, myself (until this year) included, is that the asanas (poses) are only a tiny part of yoga. In fact, according to the Eight Limb Path it is only, well, one eighth of the full Raja practice! In order to truly live ones yoga there are many other aspects that are equally, if not more important. Below you can see a chart of the Eight Limbed Path...

The idea is to build upon the Yamas and Niyamas with your posture practice, breathwork, and meditation to eventually reach a place of enlightenment or divine connection. Of course this doesn't happen over night, but we have to have goals in this life right? 

This month our focus is on the first niyama, saucha, or purity. Purity in this sense means taking care of your body, mind, and soul in a way that keeps them clean and pure. So this can range from taking a shower, to eating healthy, to going to yoga or the gym, all the way to cleansing your mind, intellect, and spirit through study, the search for knowledge, and truthfulness. Needless to say, these are lofty goals that can seem SUPER overwhelming, but if I have learned one thing through my practice it is that trying your best is always good enough. 

Yoga is about trying to be your best self! Nobody is perfect and that's totally fine. Maybe you can't do a handstand, or meditate for longer than ten minutes without falling asleep, but that's not what it is all about. Being a true and good person, aspiring and striving to better yourself, and treating others kindly is yoga too. 

There are as many paths as there people when it comes to yoga, and no single journey is perfect. All I want to do is strive every day to live my yoga. Whether that means I make it to class or not, I want to truly know in my heart that I tried my best to live my yoga. One of my favorite modern yoginis, Rachel Brathen, has a great quote...

 

I don't know what these next few months have in store but I am so excited to continue growing and learning as a yoga teacher and student because I think a true yogi never stops learning. Being a forever student of ones self and the world sounds like a pretty great adventure! 

How do you live your yoga every day? 

Em

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

Living with Intention

We are swinging right through Spring and into Summer here in NC! The days are starting to get hot and muggy and long, and everything is green and full of life. I love this time of year in Durham and I'm so glad I get to spend the next few months here before our big move this winter.

During the summer months when the American Dance Festival is going on you can hear the rehearsals going on across the street at Duke! The cicadas are picking up their chorus and fireflies are everywhere. You can hear people walking their dogs, playing outside, grilling out, and laughing with friends and family until late in the evenings. On Friday nights you can hear the fireworks from the Bulls Games and the smell of charcoal and freshly cut grass is always in the air. These are the sounds and smells of my childhood, and it makes me so nostalgic to experience them again after being gone for the last two years :)

Even though it's starting to get too hot to leave the windows open, I love to throw them wide at night so I can hear the crickets chirping as I fall asleep and the birds singing when I wake up. Every morning I take my mat out onto the back deck and get in some morning asana flow while my coffee is brewing and the dogs are running around the yard. Everything seems to move slower in the summer. I love that. The feeling of waking up early, but slow, so you have time to start your day gently and with intention.

I have been thinking about intention a lot recently. I feel like I see so many people going through life every day full of worry and anxiety and chaos. And of course, I am guilty of that regularly, but I've noticed that my yoga practice has made me hyper-aware of this to the point where I am able to catch myself getting kinetic and am then able to take a breath and reset my intention. Naturally there are some big things in life that cause stress; a big project at work, a test in your hardest class, money problems, etc. But, there are also a ton of little, insignificant things that cause just as much anxiety, and when it comes down to it worrying about ANY of these things, big or small, is not going to solve anything.

I heard a saying once that, 'if you worry about things before they happen, you suffer twice'. To people who know me, it's going to sound like I'm being extremely hypocritical right now because I am seriously one of the biggest worry-warts alive! But I think that is why I am so aware of it, because I spend so much of my own time trying to quell my anxiety and stress that I have in my life (and to a certain extent exacerbate when I don't catch myself in time!)

One of the ways that I have started trying to live with more intention is by taking a step back, following my breath, and giving myself a minute to process things when I get overwhelmed or feel myself starting to experience negative emotions. This is harder some times and easier other times but the result is always the same: I walk away feeling more at peace with things, and I am able to move forward in a more productive and positive way.

It can also help to reflect at the end of your day! I recently had dinner with my family and I was telling them about a family I used to nanny for and how every night at dinner they would go around the table and each person would say what their "rose" and "thorn" of the day was. Your "rose" being the best part of your day, and the "thorn" being the worst. We decided to do it ourselves and it was so wonderful to hear the highs and lows of each others day and talk about things on a different level. It can be so easy to let little, annoying incidents effect the outcome of our days but if we take the time to appreciate the little things and focus our intention on being grateful for those things we can be so much happier and peaceful.

Smile at a stranger. Hold a door for someone. Call a friend you haven't talked to in a while. Go for a walk outside without your phone. Go to the gym. Start a book you've been wanting to read. Have a glass of wine on your deck and look at the stars. The list in endless!! Pick one thing to do each day that will bring you joy, and do it with intention!

Find the things that bring you joy and DO THEM! We are only here for a short amount of time and every second should be filled with love and intention and gratitude (easier said than done, but big goals build character and every little step in the right direction makes a huge difference!)

What are some things you can do to start living with more intention?

Em

Let Me Just Be Basic For A Minute...I'm Ready For Autumn.

I've reached that point at the end of the summer where ALL I can think about are the cool days of fall. Anything to get some relief from the stifling, timeless, stuffiness of summer.

I want to be able to turn off the A/C and throw the windows wide open so that the smell of wood stoves and crispy leaves fill the house. I want to wake up and have that moment where the air is so chilly that getting out of bed seems impossible, until you remember how amazing that first sip of hot coffee is. I want to come home from work and be able to get cozy and curl up with a good book and a cup of tea, knowing that outside the world is slowly going into hibernation but I am warm and safe inside.

For the love of god, I really just want to be able to walk to the mailbox without having a heat stroke.

There is something so alive and exciting and comforting about the autumn. Even the names of the months; September, October, November carry a specific, cozy promise in the way they sound when they roll off your tongue. The nights get longer, the evenings chillier, and you can hear people going for walks and laughing on the street only to stifle their noise abruptly and disappear into the night. There is something about the fall that makes you want to whisper so as not to disturb nature as she slips into her yearly slumber. Not fear, but excitement and expectation. For me, it borders on awe as this colorful burst of life happens before everything slips into rest mode for winter.

Needless to say... my autumn Pinterest boards are overflowing, I'm trying to wear sweaters prematurely, and I'm getting the urge to start re-reading Harry Potter. The signs are all present. Now I just need that first leaf to turn...

The Pursuit

Every once in a while I have one of those absurdly dichotomous days where I feel simultaneously empowered and motivated to do a bunch of exciting, bucket list worthy things, but also completely frozen by indecision.

It's easy to get comfortable with life and not push yourself to try new things or go outside of your comfort zone. Now don't get me wrong, I love me a good comfort zone. In fact, I'm really, really, good at creating and maintaining a super cozy comfort zone! But, the wonderful thing about having that safety net, whether its your home, your family, your job...is that you can still take an adventurous stance in another aspect of your life.

My comfort zone has always been my family and home life. I've been lucky enough to have this wonderful sense of support from my family and friends that can only come from having that close knit, judgement free, forever kind of love. No matter where I traveled, how long I was gone, or what I did, they would always be there to welcome me home. And thankfully that remains true to this day, a fact that I appreciate and crave even more so since I am marrying someone in the military. 

I want to travel, make art, dance, read books, WRITE a book! Grow my business, take over my family business, network, meet new people! Learn a new language, get my Ph.D,  run another half marathon, get my yoga certification! There are so many crazy, exciting thoughts and adventures in my head on a daily basis, in addition to all of the necessary information that I need to live my life, that sometimes I don't know what to do with myself. 

What makes you completely speechless but excited to tell people about at the same time? What is something that you've never done before but have always wanted to try? What is the one thing people would never expect you to do? How are you going to make a difference in this crazy world that we only get a few short decades on??

I'm sure we all feel like this some days. Just full to the brim with life but not sure how to accomplish our hopes and dreams. And honestly, I don't think I know the answer to that question yet, and I'm sure the answer is different per person and per idea. But I'm pretty sure the only way nothing will come of your dreams is if you don't try. Start somewhere. Anywhere is fine. Just start. 

February Favorites

While February might have been a short month, it was jam-packed with great books, recipes, and Netflix shows to get us through the last of these cold, rainy days. Here is my list of Feb Favs that I want to share with you :)

Recently, I have been on a cooking show kick on Netflix and let me just tell you these shows are on point. They make you hungry but the music and imagery is breathtaking and I am convinced that I want to go to culinary school at some point now (terrifying, I know).

I've also been slowly making my way through a stack of wonderful books I got as birthday presents! Cookbooks, home decor books, and self improvement books are a huge guilty pleasure of mine. You know, the kind of books that most people just set out on the coffee table...I am a huge nerd and actually read them, over and over and over again.

 

 

Since the majority of the days in February down here are cold and rainy, we have been eating a lot of warm dishes for dinner. Classics like tomato soup and grilled cheese, chicken and wild rice stew, homemade buttermilk biscuits, and yo-yo ramen noodles (which basically means we make ramen and add a bunch of random yummy things to it).

The Buttermilk Biscuit recipe in the Fosters Market Favorites cookbook (above) in RIDICULOUSLY YUMMY. And easy to tweak and make your own. 

Also, cheese and wine. We go through a weird amount of bread, cheese, and wine in our house. Especially since I realized how easy it is to bake Irish Soda bread from scratch. Slap some local jam on it and it is a perfect snack during the day. 

 

There is nothing cozier than coming home from a long day of showing houses, putting some oils on the diffuser, getting some biscuits baking in the oven and settling down on the couch with a good book and some hot tea. 

I recommend all of the books above and would love to hear which recipes are your personal favorites!

xoxo Em

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

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

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

Have a Mindful Monday

As someone who gets easily excited and passionate about random causes and then has a hard time containing said excitement, there is a certain level of mindfulness that I always try to maintain. However, just like everyone, its hard to keep from falling off the bandwagon every once in a while especially about things like politics, religion, animal rights, HUMAN rights, you know, the touchy subjects. It's easy to become so passionate about your opinions that you forget to try understanding the others persons perspective. I'm not saying you have to agree or chose to even accept someones opinion when it is so far from your own, but all any of us really wants is to be heard and respected. 

That being said, since this is the season of forgiveness and love and kindness, I want to take extra measures to go out on a limb for others. I also want to try thinking a bit more before I speak, something that I'm okay about most of the time but an area that could still use a decent bit of work. 

Here are my goals for the rest of this year (and in general) concerning mindfulness:

1. Put a positive spin on everything. Not in that annoying, cheerful, beat to death kind of way. Just in that whole, hey, I want to try not to spread any unnecessary negativity around kind of way.

2. Up my random acts of kindness game. ESPECIALLY when it is not convenient to me. 

3. Build other people up, make them feel good about what they are doing, always encourage others to be the best they can be

4. Promote peace, love, and acceptance with my actions as well as speech

5. Read more so I can learn more about things I don't understand

6. Try to keep my sarcasm in check every once in a while, and fall back on self-deprecation less. 

Happy Monday - keep that caffeine intake up!

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

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