The combination of rain and Monday equals late starts, lethal traffic and even later arrivals. Add the mountain of catch-up-from-vacation work I still have in front of me with a dash of lethargy from too much fun and food (obviously I lead quite the deprived life), and you have a recipe for seemingly insurmountable odds and the kind of insufferable self-pity that can only be had by someone (me) who really doesn’t actually have a whole lot to complain about in the grand scheme of things.
But some days, I think it’s okay to acknowledge when the world feels like it’s winning more than usual and you just need a piece or five of chocolate already.
I promise Chicago pictures are on their way…In the meantime, I’m going with a favorite mood-boosting tactic of mine – visualizing my perfect day right now a la the images above. How would you like to be spending your Monday?
Change is scary. It just inherently is. When you make a change, you don’t know how it’s going to end up. Yeah, things could get way more awesome or they could be terrible and you’ll regret it. I took a big risk right after graduation, and although I’m sure one day I’ll realize what it was that I learned from the experience, as of right now I just regret it.
So, how do you know when to lean in and embrace a potential change and when to cruise along and forgo the disruption? When is the risk worth the potential reward?
I’ve thought about this a lot lately. It’s so hard to tell and a list of pros and cons can only go so far. The fear of failing can be stifling. It can leave you to settle with what you have now and not push for more. Change will disrupt your day to day life, and are you really ready for that? Will you be able to make that yoga class you enjoy so much still? Will it affect your relationships? And..will your dog like it? And did I mention, what if I fail?What if I fail?
The good news is, I’ve come to realize, that I’m only 24. Which is by far my favorite age thus far, with the exception of 4.. when I was still rocking natural white blonde curly hair.. I was adorable. (What happened?!). And at 24, change should be embraced. We should pick up the change, cradle it, give it a kiss and let it stay up late to watch cartoons. And why?
Because I’m only 24. I currently am unmarried (with no intention of changing that for quite some time) and without children. There’s no one relying on me. I don’t have a ton of expenses aside from a car payment and yoga bills. Now IS the time to experiment with change. To embrace potential new challenges that could leave you face planted in the cement with a bloody nose and a nasty scab on your knee cap. But, there’s time to get back on your feet. There quite literally is no time like the present.
But, you know what, it’s still scary. And a con list could be two pages deep, but your gut and your heart will still be in it regardless. So what do you listen to? Logic or your heart? In the words of my all-knowing best friend, follow your heart. Because now’s the time to make mistakes and learn a little.
Now I’m not talking risking your life by drinking and driving, #YOLO, drug experimenting or going home from a bar with strangers. Because that’s called being irresponsible, not risk taking. I’m talking real life changes. Like moving somewhere to pursue a new career, making a leap of faith in your relationship or seizing a potentially scary opportunity.
I’m about to be annoyingly vague.. but… I’m looking to make a few changes and hopefully have the opportunity to take a risk very soon that will maybe make me miss a few yoga classes, my dog might not like it and it might affect my relationships. But my heart’s in it. It feels right. It feels worth it. And frankly, I don’t want to live in regret of something that could have been.
Wish me luck in my vague reference to a risk that might not even happen?
So I originally wrote this post with the intention of posting it abouuuuttt 10 days ago. And well, now that we are 11 days into July already, this post may have a mute point. But I still like the idea of reflecting on June, so here it goes.
July really crept up on me, it feels like just yesterday I was saying the exact same thing about June, so forgive my broken record whining. In the interest of slowing time down, I’m taking this first post of July to reminisce.
I visited with family. My brother got hitched in mid June and as a reward, we all got to spend 4 days in Florida. I love my extended family. Most of the fam lives on the East coast, and my mom, dad and brother and I all moved to Texas in ’97. As life got more and more expensive and busy, we visited less and less. But my brother pointed out in a speech during an engagement party in Maryland that no matter how much time has passed, whenever we come back to visit we are always welcomed with hugs and love, and it’s like we never left. It’s such a beautiful thing. Now we’re all just on the lookout for the next wedding till we can drink get together again.
Back to the wedding thing. Did I mention how beautiful it was? I was on the phone with my Grandma the other day and she pointed out what a beautiful couple my brother and his wife made. The whole night, the venue, the people and the couple we were there to celebrate all combined to make for one perfectly lovely affair.
My soul sista returned. My very best friend is a wanderlust and she’s been living in Spain since we graduated. She’s back for about a year and it’s just so wonderful. My enthusiasm for introducing my boyfriend to my best friend was borderline creepy, but they both handled the pressure with poise. Having her back in my state has been a blast. Although it will be short lived since she is sure to be off again in no time, I’m soaking up all the time I can get.
I saw Portugal, the Man and it rocked. Those guys are sickly talented. They played Atomic Man and my heart melted.
I spent a lot of June talking about working out and changing up my lifestyle a little bit. Soo I’m happy to say that I also lost 5 pounds and I’m pretty stoked about it. It’s just nice to see healthy eating habits and workout routines actually pay off.. am I right? Although I’m still working on getting my butt out of bed to throw on running shoes, there has definitely been progress!
So what’s next for July? What goals can I accomplish? I want to continue my efforts in healthy living, read more (broken record again, I know I know), strive for new professional goals, teach Westley not to pull on the leash when he sees a squirrel because they are literally EVERYWHERE, and continue to focus on living in the present. And to better focus on living in the present, I want to re-take up journaling.
Hmm why is that many of my goal’s (falling asleep journaling and reading, getting up to work out) biggest obstacle is my bed? Perhaps I need to make my bed less amazing…nahhh never mind. I’m not a miracle worker.
While I’m fully aware that next to no one is online and blog-reading today, I couldn’t help but share a little of the day with you all before I set out for an afternoon of pool-side and rooftop celebrations, followed by a wedding at an idyllic-sounding bed & breakfast in Wisconsin and a couple days reveling in the joys of tall buildings and public transportation in Chicago. I started 2013 with the commitment to finally get myself up to Chicago, which is also around the time I decided to cut out added sugar / desserts for a multitude of health / lifestyle reasons I’ve talked about before. Next week not only will I be able to cross Chicago of my resolutions list, but I will also be treating myself to my first real dessert (fruit doesn’t count) of 2013…a Sprinkles cupcake, naturally, circa their cupcake ATM.
It’s a big week.
But for right now, I’m just soaking up all things Fourth of July. The combination of the sunny outdoors, pools, friends, hot dogs and fireworks makes this holiday pretty much unbeatable in my mind. Like everyone probably does with their favorite holiday, I hype it up a lot, but it really never disappoints.
My new royal blue sundress? Drying.
Beer and prosecco? Chilling.
Now if I could just get my hands on some sparklers, I’d say this day is complete. Have a great holiday, everybody!
Today was a very Italian day, which is to say, I was in my element.
After going on weeks of eating out for every meal due to a gas leak in our old-fashioned oven (ah, the charming joys of old home ownership), I enjoyed a fresh lunch thrown together from cucumbers and basil from my mother’s garden, olive oil and a pinch (or two) of salt. Heaven in my mouth, I tell you.
The offending appliance.
I followed my summer lunch with a glass of “just got home from work during a stressfully short week” wine and what I’ll just call a ‘highly passionate’ conversation. My roommate and I ended the night with a long walk in our new tree-lined neighborhood (dare I say…passeggiata?) and gelato before dinner – also known as sorbet for my dairy-free self. It was literally all I could do to keep from telling the generous sample-giving high schooler behind the counter, “Posso avere un piccolo con limone e anguria, per favore.”
I don’t know if it’s all the Under the Tuscan Sun I’ve been reading lately, nostalgia or just my genes taking over (one can only hope), but I am always up for incorporating a little more Italiano in daily life. In my experience, the Italians are all about appreciating the little things, pacing themselves through life, loving on those around them and of course, doing it all with good food, wine and friends.
While Italy is a place that I miss often, days like this remind me it is also a mindset. Despite all odds, I can look back on my day now and see the good, which makes me breathe just a little easier and makes me feel like “Tiffany’s” might not be so out of reach after all.
Random thought of the day: Writing is like working out.
It’s important to me. I want to do it more than I do. I find it hard to get started, especially after longer bouts without doing it. I succumb to excuses like, “I don’t have enough time to get in a good session if I start now,” and “I’m too [insert state of being here – busy, tired, full, lazy…].” I like it while I do it. I love it after I finish. Overall, I just feel better about myself when I do it regularly.
See what I mean? But that’s not what this post is about. Today I want to talk to ya’ll about movies.
Like Lydia is to music, I am to film. (My pretentious use of “film” is how you can tell I really mean it. 😉 ) And like she recently found herself in a music drought, I’ve felt myself drifting from my roots as a film buff and movie lover for awhile now. I can make excuses about how I’m busier (busy-er?) than I used to be or chalk it up to personal growth and change with age, but I miss knowing the inside scoop on films past and present, anticipating upcoming gems and getting sucked into new stories and characters.
Having a minor in film means I’ve spent way more time than most analyzing movie-making and could write for literally days, but I’ll spare you the rhetoric and just say this: when done well, film is a beautiful, multi-sensory celebration and sharing of story. This is why I love it.
It’s a sad day when your also-movie-appreciating boyfriend and you realize that all you’ve seen lately has been disappointing, gimmicky and just plain bad blockbusters. After realizing we need to take ownership of our movie-going decisions (and really learn our lesson already), I spent some time trolling IMDB and ‘best of’ lists to build this Must-See Films list of my own:
Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s – I love documentaries, grew up wanting to be a fashion designer, and the interviews with fashion elite seem both smart and sassy. Must. See.
The Bling Ring – Directed by Sofia Coppola. Which means I not only will see it, but I have to. Supporting talented women in film is SO important to increase opportunities in this historically male-dominated field.
Kick Ass 2 – I appreciate the originality and humor of the first one. And then there’s the whole getting to see Chloe Grace Moretz, well, kicking ass.
Girl Most Likely – Another girl crush (I think I’m beginning to sense a pattern here) – Kristen Wiig is the quirky lead, figuring out the pitfalls of life. The synopsis also threw in the promise of “The Big Apple,” Darren Criss and Matt Dillon, making this one a no-brainer.
The Spectacular Now – A “dramedy” romance from the writers of 500 Days of Summer starring Miles Teller. Done.
Prince Avalanche – Misadventure on the road with Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. One can only hope this comes close to my other Emile Hirsch favorites like Into The Wild and Dangerous Lives of Alter Boys. And who doesn’t like Paul Rudd?
The Internship – Okay. This one has the potential to be really awful. But Vince Vaughn’s and Owen Wilson’s internship is at Google. GOOGLE. And I’m a complete self-proclaimed Google Groupie.
White House Down – So I thought I’d sneak one more blockbuster in here and hope no one notices…but sometimes you just need a good action movie (and good, non-cheesy action movies are hard to come by these days). Plus, any movie Channing Tatum is saving me, I mean, the fictional world, is one I’m probably not going to say no to.
Some Girls – Adam Brody travels across the country meeting with exes. I just really miss Seth Cohen, so I’ll be making Lydia come see this with me.
Stories We Tell – I don’t usually go in for the whole “well Rotten Tomatoes says,” but this got a 96%! It’s also supposed to be insightful, sentimental and a great illustration of the true art that is documentary film-making.
The English Teacher – I was drawn in by the cast, but stuck around for the synopsis. This one could end up being even better than it sounds.
Before Midnight – I’ve always wanted to see its predecessor, Before Sunrise, so now is as good a time as any to get to know Jesse and Celine from their fateful meeting to their present day reunion.
The Lifeguard – I love independent movies about life transitions. Kristen Bell quits her New York job (why??) and moves home for a summer of lifeguarding and quirky small-town life on a quest for happiness.
Francis Ha – Greta Gerwig’s New York City-living lead has so much “kook” and dreamy ambition I can’t help but put this one in the same category as Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Which if you couldn’t tell, we’re just a tad obsessed with over here.
Will I see them all? I have no idea when, but I sure hope so! What other movies do you think I should be getting excited about?
Instead of buying a card case, and well anything else likely for the next month, I ended up making a fantastic investment into my health and wellness. I, bought a baby – I mean yoga mat. I’ve heard tale tales of people who have a strange attachment to their yoga mats. Something about the fact that your time on your yoga mat is your time. A time to be inward focused, to forget the world. It’s just you and your mat. So, naturally, you want your mat to be a happy place to sweat on for a few hours. I, Lydia, am now one of them. There was no ceremonious introduction or even a cocktail hour, just a big bill. You see, I’ve been stalking and researching “The Mat” by LuluLemon for quite some time. I’ve even been known for just stopping in the store just to look and touch it. I’ve been in about 5 times to look at it and have talked to several sales people. My first interaction went something like this..
“Have you heard anything about The Mat?” – attractive, in shape, happy and overall likely good person sales guy
“Well..only that…I should have it.” – Pushover, no poker face, Lydia
“Ha yeah, that’s about right” – attractive, now funny, in shape, happy and overall likely a good person sales guy
And that’s how it usually goes when I go in the store.
Before this weekend, I owned exactly two things from LuluLemon. A pair of pants that were a present (in high school, and they are still the best, comfiest sweat pants ever) and a headband. They’re stuff is expensive. I simply can’t bring myself to splurge $60 on a yoga top when I can buy one at TJ Maxx or Old Navy for $10-15. Just can’t.
The problem with that place though is that the environment has to be the happiest place in any mall. The salespeople are all super friendly, talkative and are genuinely are interested in your fitness routine because they themselves are so passionate about it. Each time I go there, I am asked where I practice yoga. And I almost always end up talking to someone who has been or currently attends the same place I do. They also make no attempt to pressure me into anything. They don’t make obvious comments like “Oh well we just got these new shirts in…” Instead, I feel as though these sales people are my friends who really want me to make a good purchase that I’m happy with. Which is ultimately why I took the plunge this weekend.
It started as a quick stop in to get a new headband. Innocent enough. But then my boyfriend took a seat in the store and I was free to not-so-aimlessly wander. I sneaked over to the yoga mats and held one on in my hand. I talked to two salespeople who swear by The Mat and we started talking about where I go, why I want The Mat and what I use now. All of a sudden it was no longer, should I get it? It was, yeah but what color? I picked out my Mat (purple, by the way), told the boyfriend I was doing it, he applauded my investment, and I made my way to the register. There I started talking to the cashier who regularly attends Gaia Flow Yoga and how much he loves it and the instructors and said I should attend a certain class on Sundays. I, naturally, plan to join in on this class next weekend. And then the other sales guy up front started giving me some tips and tricks on how to care for my mat. So in the end, it took four Lululemon-ers to get me out the door with my giant shopping bag. They’re SO good at that.
My new mat!
In the end, I am so excited for my purchase! Making investments into your exercise routine feels so good. I’m not necessarily saying you should go drop a few hundos on work out clothes, but just noting how impressed I am with this brand. Each person there fully epitomized what I think of when I think Lulu. The brand encourages a happy, healthy lifestyle. They advertise this through their communications, their products and their people. If you’re ever near a store, I invite you to stop in just to check it out if you haven’t already. The positive experience I had there could easily convince me to shop there all the time, if it weren’t for that pesky thing called money. So, I’ve joined the Lulu bandwagon. Feels pretty good though.
Today I finally got business cards at work. I’m SO excited!
As I’ve hinted at several times before, when I graduated college I took a job in Arizona and was absolutely miserable in the position. Six months later, I packed up and moved back to Dallas to redirect my career to advertising. After a stint at Starbucks, I was able to secure an unpaid internship and convinced them to hire me full time a few months later. I’ve changed titles and responsibilities a lot since starting (we’re a small agency and all wear many hats), so the investment in ordering me business cards seemed fruitless.
A year later, I’m a full on Marketing Specialist – a title that’s going to be sticking around. And a full on business card holder! Hell to the yes. I assume I have to lavish in this excitement now for I fear the excitement of having my name all professional looking will diminish with age…
So now, in my typical over excitement for the small things, I just have to find the perfect business card holder ASAP. Because where am I supposed to keep these little lovelies? I’ve been stalking Etsy for a little bit this morning and I’m so torn. I want something handsome and classy that I’ll still like in 5 years. When I want to invest in something long term I almost always buy something that’s as neutral as possible. Hence, my addiction to leather goods and the color white. But maybe I should go for something with a little color? These are the trials and tribulations of my Friday.. tough right? 😉
I’m pretty confident not having a white blazer is the only thing standing between me and ultimate career / life domination.
This could also have something to do with my relatively few years in the working world or my still in-progress definition of “success”…but still.
For me, clothing not only says a lot about how I feel, but it also sets the tone for how I want to feel each day. And I’m pretty sure it’s impossible to not feel completely put together and sophisticated while wearing a white blazer.
When I visualize a productive, stress-free day at the office (ha) or a sunny patio brunch with my favorite people, a chic white blazer is definitely a component. Its versatility is such a bonus, too. Since I now spend the majority of my weeks in Antartica a freezing office and am lucky to work in a place that values trendy and professional outfits, I tend to look more for items fit for agency life and beyond. A tailored white blazer that can be dressed up or down for the office, a client meeting, brunch, date night and parties over shorts, dresses, jeans and more? Get in my closet.
Although we expected nothing less from my favorite golden child/brother, this past weekend was absolute wedding/family/friend bliss. To top it off, I got some much needed beach time! My feet have never craved sand so badly in my whole life. The wedding was the epitome of simple elegance. Combine that with great music, flowing wine and a family of crazy dancers, you have an al dente recipe for a jolly good time. I haven’t gotten over how much fun I had. Reconnecting with cousins, aunts, uncles and getting to reunite with my soul sista from Spain.. all just magical. Watching my brother so in love and saying his vows to his new wife, was simply everything. And not to up the jealousy scale, but I also got to enjoy TWO morning runs right next to the water. It was still early, so the water was completely still like glass. If there was ever a time to try walking on water, that was it. It looked solid, quiet and peaceful…just begging for a cannonball if you ask me.
At Tiffany’s, we always stress living every day to it’s fullest and living intentionally. This past weekend was the kind that tempt you to be someone who “lives for the weekend.” I, personally, hate that expression. I hope to never be someone who is just getting through Monday- Friday afternoon. That’s FOUR and a HALF days of living that you’re skipping over. Sure, you might be spending a large majority of that time sitting at your desk working away, but there are ways to soak up that day to day time. And, your’e in luck, I’m going to break down some little things I do for myself everyday. [get excited… ;)]
Mornings. If you wake up and rush to get to work, you’re missing out on some valuable enjoyable time. For instance, in the mornings I go for a long walk with my dog and either listen to Kidd Kraddick in the Morning (guilty pleasure) or take a book with me and listen to some tunes. Now not everyone can read and walk, or have a dog to walk for that matter, but surely you’re catching my drift. I love that peaceful time when the temperature hasn’t gotten to hot and my neighborhood is still relatively quiet. I also just love coffee. I only have about half a cup or so a day, but I love every sip! So I am always sure to have my coffee in a cute mug, and sip on it while I get ready in the morning. By the time I get to work, I’m already in a faaaabulous mood.
Work monotony. Sometimes, work can get a little monotonous. So, to keep me happy during the day I’ll listen to a TED Talk, a new playlist on Spotify and take short little breaks throughout the day if the task at hand is too boring.
Post work release. Once you’ve been cooped up all day in an office, I think it’s so important to get moving sometime before you go to bed. You’ll boost your endorphins and you’ll sleep better. This could be going for a run, walk, bike ride, a yoga class or even heading to the gym (if you’re into that, I’m jealous. Gyms bore me to tears).
All I am saying is, it’s silly to just “get through” the weekdays to get to relax on the weekends. Enjoy the routine of a weekday and find ways to make each day a relatively good day. Maybe for you that’s cooking a delicious meal (you’re welcome to come over ANY time) or getting in bed earlier to snuggle in your covers with a good book. Find your little bit of happiness each and every day.
The combination of rain and Monday equals late starts, lethal traffic and even later arrivals. Add the mountain of catch-up-from-vacation work I still have in front of me with a dash of lethargy from too much fun and food (obviously I lead quite the deprived life), and you have a recipe for seemingly insurmountable odds and the kind of insufferable self-pity that can only be had by someone (me) who really doesn’t actually have a whole lot to complain about in the grand scheme of things.
finding tiffany's 