catching up.

It's been months, and I hate missing out...so let's catch up :)

Here are some things worth mentioning from the past few months, and I'll fill in the gaps later...

Only the first few pictures appear on my home page, but you can click "read more" below to view the entire post." Sneaky new tricks :)

Halloween happened. Pumpkins glowed in the sunset and were later carved into silly faces.
Michael and I went to our first haunted housed together...and laughed. What? #middleschoolzombiesarentscary

Michael had a birthday. I decorated. #quarterofacentury

 

The Badgers played in a heavenly scene.

We cheered.

grace.

Hi. 

I've missed you. 

And then I tried to forget about you.

And then I missed you again. 

Real talk? I've had a love hate relationship with the blogging world lately. 

I've ignored it, fearing that if I spent too much time on it I would always want something that I couldn't have. I would get lost in the Pinterest and Blogger envy. I would fix my eyes on what's pleasing to the world instead of what's pleasing to God. 

That might get an eye-roll out of some of you, but I'm sure at one point you've felt a sense of dissatisfaction after browsing the beautiful highlight reel of someone else's life, suddenly wanting a new wardrobe, a more glamorous home, or a toned body. But that's all that it is: a highlight reel. We're comparing our full story to their highlight reel, and they will never match up. It's exhausting to compare, to always want, and to never be satisfied. 

To stay away from such exhaustion and to keep my mind in the right place (looking up!), I've needed to take a break from the blog every now and then. Clearly I haven't quite found my balance. 

I've had the urge to post my blog everywhere, eager to share with family and friends, while also wanting to delete it and start over so that no one is aware of it. I can sometimes feel myself trying to entertain others instead of simply giving myself an outlet. 

That's what this blog is, or at least, what it's supposed to be. My outlet. "My bucket to overflow." For me, and no one else. But every time I've visited my blog over the past few months I've felt pangs of guilt to instead use my time to catch up for work, continue my bible study, study for the GRE exam, work out, or (insert the never-ending pile of overdue projects here). To do something "productive" so that I feel better about myself, and so God feels better about me. #dumb.

We all face it. We glorify the word "busy" and overload our schedules. 

Our obligatory to-do list is so long that we're overwhelmed with discomfort when straying, to...I don't know...blog? Blogging didn't make the cut. 

I love lists. and I love prioritizing tasks. But I'm starting to learn that these strategies belong mainly in the workplace. (Can't believe I'm rejecting lists right now)

As for the rest of life? We need a little more grace. Don't get me wrong, we need to stay motivated and keep up with our responsibilities, but we need to stop striving for Busy. We can't forget to simply Be, and allow ourselves to do what we Feel, not just what we Should. 

Luckily my boyfriend is learning how to read my mind. When listening to my plans for the night he suddenly said, "You know, it's OKAY to have a hobby, and you don't always need to worry about what you should be doing when you're actually doing something you enjoy."

...the wisdom! 

Apparently I needed some affirmation to ditch the to-do list and simply enjoy every now and then...via blogging...hah. It sounds really dorky, but it felt like a breath of fresh air. 

So I'm back. and I'm ready to make some visual changes. and I'm aiming to hold a loyal presence.

and I'm going to be my typically quirky self. and my hope is to glorify God, so I'm going to honor the life and gifts He's given me, but I'm also going to appreciate the blessings He's poured on others...mostly in the form of fashion, decor, and other beauties ;) 

...and I'm not going to feel guilty about it. 

Amazing grace! He loves me the same immeasurable amount, today and tomorrow and the next, no matter what I do. 

Blog on, homies.

images via 

xoxo,

tired. just tired.

 i so wish.

this little doggie makes me laugh so stinkin' hard.

wishing you all, and hoping for, a rejuvenating night of sleep.

...but wouldn't it be great if tomorrow was cancelled?!

thank you, Pinterest

xoxo,

a pretty neat folk life.

My best friend is finishing PT school and just spent 3 months in North Carolina for a clinical rotation. When her program was complete, her brother and I flew down to drive her home. 

...road trip! 

Cue this song, which we sang/whistled throughout.

We spent most of our time exploring the very quaint Asheville, NC and then spent a number of hours in awe as we drove through the Appalachian mountains through Tennessee and Kentucky. The mountain trees were in the peak of fall, creating the image of a wall of fire. Our cameras only left us disappointed, so we drooled and yelled with our faces up against the car windows. We enjoyed some folk music, overused the word "neat," and made up for lost time. 

We could have spent weeks driving throughout the South, picking up their accents and eating their amazing grits, but it was a wonderful quick weekend with two of my favorites! 

 

 

 

Hope you had a great weekend!

xoxo,

my home.

xoxo,

Sunday in the Park

After an exhausting weekend, sometimes we need a little crisp fall air to bring us back to life. 

I sat at a picnic table for an hour or so, reading, writing and watching the people around me. 

Every now and then we need a moment to just "be" - I think that's when the blessings hit us.

 

xoxo,

career women.

I survived my first 55 hour work week, and my first 12 hour Friday, and I have a feeling this will be the first of many ahead. The office really transforms at 8pm on a Friday night! My mouth was watering at the thought of a cold beer, and my heart was racing at every odd sound echoing throughout the empty building...yikes!

This may be a common event for you, but holy cow, I'm feelin' it. I can't imagine doing that and then coming home to entertain a husband and care for screaming children.  ...in addition to staying healthy, maintaining a social life...Lord help me. I'm lucky to have a strong mom that set an example, but my hat goes off to all of you. I hope to join the ranks some day. 

So here's my shout out to all of you career women, especially the working moms out there that can somehow do it all. Ya'll are SAINTS! 

photos via

Enjoy a relaxing weekend, you deserve it!

xoxo,

wisco weekenders.

Cheers to the weekend.

Impromptu Badger games. (they won!) 

 A pitcher of a local brew while sitting lakeside on Monona Terrace.

Old friends that need no explanation, and never cease to make you laugh.

Walking adventures with the serious question of, dude, where's my car? 

Overgrown ivy. 

And ending it all back at home with a beautiful mass and a hopeful encounter.  

What do they call that? Oh yeah: Blessed. 

xoxo,

little things.

I seem to be one of many that are going through a tough season in life right now. I know that God is with me every step of the way, and I'm thankful for the challenges as I know they only make me reflect longer, pray harder, and praise more fully. Regardless, everything seems to happen at once, only emphasizing the saying, "when it rains, it pours." 

Luckily I like the rain sometimes :) 

Here are the little things that have gotten me through the more challenging days:

 A PR omelette. Yes, I mean Personal Record. Just look at that beauty.

New shrubs. An adorably soft yet spikey little plant that I hope I can keep alive. 

 Beth Moore's study of James, the brother of Jesus. Mind blowing.

 My dad's discoveries from his last summer weekend as a wannabe scuba diver.

The beautiful sight of walking up my apartment stairs to see a package waiting at my door. 

Hello, fall shopping. 

I hope you are finding hope if you're one of the many enduring a challenging season, or counting your blessings as you soak up a season of joy. Either way, I hope you're able to find happiness in the little moments that create our life. 

xoxo,

Para.Para.Paradise.

If you don't know what song I'm referring to in my title, listen below because you.are.missing.out.

In exactly one month, Michael and I will be heading to Paradise in Naples, FL.

Paradise, meaning the following weather report:

His grandparents have amazing condos just off the beach, so we're fortunate enough to escape there for the third year in a row. We were planning to wait until next winter, but I couldn't handle hearing all of the spring break stories while facing another week in my office cubicle. I'm still not used to this big kid world! So until that day in May, I'll be drooling in anticipation of the following:

 

 

 

"get us off this plane and onto the beach!!"

I love traveling with my partner in crime, isn't he cute!? 

Are you waiting for a vacation?

Let the countdown begin! 

xoxo,