Simple Joys

I'm a big believer in doing things to make yourself happy.  I've always been someone that has neglected myself, especially when I first came to college.  I would worry about making everyone else happy and forget that I needed to be happy too.  Now that I'm older and wiser (I'd like to think I'm wiser), I try and do even the smallest thing to bring joy to my day.  That includes everything from making time for Bible study or my devotional, buying flowers, stopping for a latte and reading.

Be good to yourselves!!!  What little things do you do for happiness?  

Apple picking and other noteworthy pictures

Thoughts on a Thought Catalog list...

Thought Catalog recently published the list, 19 Things You Accomplish Before Getting Married.  I was perplexed at first because they totally plagiarized themselves since they published a very similar list in July by a different writer entitled, 19 Things You Should Do Before You Get Married.  Personally, I like the first list better.

So...lets reflect on that one. 

I guess I'm still dealing with my breakup, right?  I'm 90% fine, but I guess that 10% that leaves my mind reeling means I am still in the post-apocalyptic phase.  I appreciate this list for that reason because clearly...so much left to do! *hand-clapping iPhone emojii* - go ahead, judge me for that...

Here are some personal favorites:

 2. Love your body. While it’s true that the media would often convince us that we’ll only feel beautiful in the arms of someone who loves and approves of us physically, when we’re alone in front of an unforgiving mirror, the only thoughts we’re left with are our own. Going into any relationship feeling ugly, unlovable, and as though you should be ashamed of the way you look is a recipe for disaster. If you think you’re not worthy or capable of being touched and admired, even if someone disagrees with you, it’s going to be difficult to feel their love through all the layers of self-loathing. Though no one wakes up one day and goes, “Oh hell yeah I don’t know what I was thinking, I’m f-cking gorgeous,” it wouldn’t hurt to work on becoming happy with your body and finding some balance every day.

3. Accomplish something just for you. It could be graduating from school, starting a challenging job, or just facing a fear you need to prove you can overcome. Frankly, the obstacles and goal posts we have scattered throughout our lives come in all shapes and sizes, and only you should be concerned with the parameters you set for success and accomplishment. But if we don’t do things to make ourselves happy and feel as though we accomplished something, we can easily become complacent, or feel that we shouldn’t even try, because we’ll never reach our goals. The longer we go without achieving something because we want to, the harder it will become to start up that hill.

7. Learn from the time you dated someone and treated them like crap. Everyone has that one relationship where they’re not particularly proud of the way they behaved. They took someone for granted, they picked fights, and acted generally like a jerk. While such behavior is certainly not commendable, you learn a lot about yourself through treating someone badly. Mainly, you realize who you don’t want to be and what kind of relationship you don’t want to have, which makes you more prepared for something like marriage. You can’t ever go back to the way you acted because it made you hate yourself. Your future husband/wife will feel relieved that you got this relationship out of your system.

11. Get your heart broken. Whether from losing a good friend, having a fight you know you were wrong in, or seeing a love you were sure was forever end prematurely — we all need to know what it feels like to be broken. Perhaps the most essential thing about heartbreak is coming out on the other side and realizing that, no matter how badly you are hurting in the moment, it’s going to pass and you are going to be happy again. Few things manage to put future fights, anger, and sadness into perspective than getting over a real heartbreak at least once.

15. Live alone/ be alone. People can go their entire lives skipping from relationship to relationship because they’re afraid of being alone. Being alone isn’t always a walk on the beach, but it’s important to develop the capacity to rely on yourself for happiness before you pass off so much of that weight to another human being. 

16. Fall in love with a friend. What is this strange idea that only the people you have sex with/ marry are the people you are supposed to fall head-over-heels in love with? What a sad life we would all be living if we were incapable of loving someone just for long car rides, laughing at stupid TV shows, and staying up late eating junk food and drinking straight from the bottle. Take the time to experience love in all the forms that you routinely mistake for being “boring old friendship.”

How can you not appreciate this list?  I particularly love 15 and 16.  Being alone is difficult, especially when you're used to being a pair.  That was the case for me and when it ended I was beside myself.  However, I quickly learned the benefits of taking some time for myself.  I think there is something to be said about being comfortable all alone because you get the opportunity to decided whether or not you actually like yourself.  If you do, great...if not, make some changes.  I feel sorry for people that can't be alone.  There's no intimacy greater than getting to know and love yourself without the comfort of a significant other.  Number 16 is equally as great and is something I'm experiencing now.  I've gotten the opportunity to put so much love and time into my friendships and they have just blossomed.  People forget about their friends, especially while in relationships and its foolish.  It's a mistake that I will never make again. 

What are your thoughts on this list?

Back in business, folks

A friend of mine wrote to me today and asked why I had stopped blogging.  It dawned on me then that I hadn't written in a very long time.  I was certainly aware of my unannounced hiatus but it really hit me this morning that I was letting people down who read this blog.  I have friends, family, and readers who have contributed so much love to my blogging experience and I was very ready to throw in the towel.  I had decided about a week ago that my laziness might as well be a hiatus and I might as well just return after the holidays.  The thing is, I've been feeling very uninspired.  About three months ago when From Scratch was in the design phase, I wrote another blog which chronicled my life in my relationship....and then my relationship ended.  So, the inspiration for From Scratch derived from the idea that my life was starting over.  Remember that age old saying, "don't put your eggs in one basket?" Yeah, don't.  I did and it totally sucked.  The point is, I was motivated to start From Scratch because I literally had to press the abort mission button on my old blog and restart.  I essentially changed my identity.  I was so inspired to write openly and honestly and then I realized I wanted privacy...just for a little.  I got rid of Facebook and just lived my life.  It felt good and I don't necessarily feel like putting myself back on the grid and sharing all of my deepest darkest thoughts and opinions about life in general, but still.  I do however feel like putting time into something I love...which is this blog.

So for those of you that do read...hang tight.

The Anxiety Diaries, pray more...worry less

A friend of mine has a phone case that on the back says “Pray More, Worry Less.”

Preach.

I want this phone case but because life is unfair and I can’t afford the iPhone 5 (which the case is made for…only) I am SOL.  ANYWAY.  What a great way to look at things right?  Sometimes I wake up with the most irrational worries and they consume me.  It’s no way to live life, honestly.  When I saw my friends phone case the other day I thought, “That’s it, that’s the ticket!” 

Life happens, in reality we can control very little of it.  It’s not worth consuming yourself with worries that are out of your hand, just pray about them!

There are days I wake up and honestly start worrying about my life two years from now.  No, I’m not kidding and to tell you the truth, writing this, I don’t think I can tell you exactly what I worry about.  Obviously there are worries in life that are natural.  They are things we should be worrying about.  Then there are others…worries that consume us with no real reason at all.  I know for me I have started to take a step back in times that I am worrying most and think, “Is this really worth it right now?  Should I be concerned about it?”  If not, I try to stop.  I can’t control everything (although, I would absolutely love that but I am not God, so there’s that.)  It’s helped.  Even if I’m not perfect at it yet, the thought of trying makes me feel good about myself…proud even. 

I am the type of person who is always worrying about the future as opposed to living in the moment and I’ve missed out on a lot because of it….but that’s a topic for next week. 

The point is, pray more…worry less.  Let life happen.

**I am not an expert in anxiety and if you are feeling it intensely, please seek help in some way!  This series is not meant to be anything other than my experience with my own anxiety.  I hope it provides everyone a little laughter and a lot of relief.  

Series:

The Anxiety Diaries, a welcome address

The Anxiety Diaries, extending my comfort zone

Life is good...and other notes from my new desk

I've got to be honest, in August it seemed there was a never-ending amount of "bad" going on in life...in my life in particular.  Then, in the blink of an eye things all started to change!  It's funny how life works.  If I had to guess why life was on the upwards, I would say it has a lot to do with finding the silver lining.  About a month ago I realized I had no choice but to find the silver lining in life, in every moment...the good and the bad.  Doing so has helped me appreciate the small victories in my life..which last week included getting Starbucks on a busy day.  It's helped the circumstances and it's felt good to rebuild and reboot myself after all this time.  Find the silver lining guys...it's how everything eventually falls into place.

ANYWAY.

I'm writing you all from my new desk, which is particularly exciting because it's my own.  At my last internship I sat at a conference table often having to move around the normal hustle and bustle of the office.  Nope, not this time!  I have my own desk, phone and Mac...I'm also doing what I love.  I'm pretty sure today is the best Monday I have had in a very long time. 

In other news, last week also kicked ass.  I landed an awesome freelance opportunity, took a babysitting job, had an amazing dinner with two of my very best girlfriends, went to Hoboken with a girlfriend from home and then hid the rest of the weekend, slept and watched Harry Potter.  That's only to name a few.  BAM.  I win.   Small victories and silver linings included, last week was fantastic. 


I was sitting reading the October issue of Real Simple last night because I am all about fall these days and I came across a quote I thought I'd share:

"With great power...comes great need to take a nap"

Preach.

Also, from Pinterest:

"A well read woman is a dangerous creature"

Preach.

--
Think about those.

Sorry for rambling, but thanks for listening <3

New Hampshire, I love you

This weekend Tim and I headed to New Hampshire with some friends for a magnificent, relaxing vacation at  our friends beautiful log cabin.  Unfortunately, it's back to reality for all of us college kids tomorrow as we are literally beginning finals week, but it's fine...we all did so much studying this weekend ;)

I'm kidding.  This weekend I did not a single lick of school work and let me tell you it felt great.  I can't tell you the last time I was this sun burnt or this relaxed.  Aside from sightseeing and eating our hearts out from Connecticut to Vermont to New Hampshire, we napped.  Sometimes you forget how good it feels to get away for a while.

I took some pictures, mostly of scenery (actually only of scenery, I don't have a single group shot! ugh!)  If any of you ever feel like getting away to a place you will be able to totally relax, head to New Hampshire.

 This was the sunset on our first night there...it was enough to make me want to stay forever.

 Our friend has three adorable dogs and a cat named Jake...he was fun to hang out with.

 This isn't like a courtesy wave either guys, it's a full on, smile included, wave

 Welcome to the longest candy counter folks, Littleton, NH.  

 So many fudge options...all ridiculously good.

 It makes me sad because these pictures don't do it justice!

 Jake

 Homemade vanilla and caramel swirl ice cream.  Excuse my nails...the last thing on my mind was painting them!

New Hampshire does this thing where when you ask for hot chocolate with whipped cream you get sprinkles on top.  Can I just tell you how obsessed I am with this concept?!

Overall, it was a great little vacation and I could have stayed forever.  I was only a little sad that I didn't get to see a moose.  Okay, maybe a lot sad.

A little update!

It's been a while since I've checked in and I sincerely apologize if I've kept some of you coming back with nothing new to read.  It's been so busy on my end and I am really excited to fill you all in with some separate blog posts.  For now, I just stopped by to check in and say hello.  The spring weather has been beautiful and I am currently sitting outside doing some school work.

Last weekend Tim gave me these adorable rings (top left) that I have been asking for and I was so excited to get them.  It was such a sweet gesture.  

Also, my dad just made this Mickey and Minnie sign for my room!  It's burned into wood, he's so talented!