currently...

happy 17th birthday, little brother!

jamming to the 90s Country Mix on Pandora
planning a spring trip to Yellowstone/Tetons
blissed out because of another free month of Netflix
obsessed with this
listening to the sounds of Tim ripping down the ceiling in the basement bedroom
dreaming about paint colors
craving adventure
sore from wiping out last night during a little pick-up hockey with Tim
(still) enjoying flowers I got on Valentine's Day
praying for Bob, Mandy, and my grandparents
thankful for my family
anxious for warm evenings in the sunroom
excited to fulfill a life goal this weekend

a new year

I always get a little nostalgic in the last few moments before a new year, looking back and remembering all the thankfulness, blessings, trials, and challenges. And then thinking ahead to a new year, a fresh slate and the perfect time to set new goals and aspirations. I've never been too big on resolutions, however the only one I've actually ever kept was when I began my Project 365 back in 2011. It was such a sense of accomplishment (not to mention a great way to document everyday life) that I've decided to make that my resolution again this year. Boom, there it is.

Watching fireworks over Lake George at 12:01am. Happy New Year!

the art of being busy

I love to be busy. I always have. I remember when I was in 6th grade I had a fever that lasted nearly a week. And on day 3 or 4 of being home from school, I begged my mom to let me go and said that I really didn't feel that bad. Or at work, the thing I dread the most in nearly every job I've had is those quiet, I-have-nothing-left-on-my-to-do-list days. Doing "nothing" is hard for me. And whether this is right or not, I feel so much more productive when I have a long to-do list.

I'm realizing that this has been why life post-college has seemed so...unproductive. One of the biggest reasons I loved (and sometimes hated) college was each day was jam packed with class, work, lunch with the girls, projects, and homework. It felt so good to have daily, weekly, monthly goals and to be working towards and for something - a degree and diploma. I would literally plan out each hour of my day in order to get everything done. And I remember going to bed at night exhausted, but fulfilled.

Fast-forward three years to right now and I feel like my life is the exact opposite. The earliest I ever have to be to up is 7:00 am; I never have work outside of work; lunch dates have turned into occasional phone dates; and since I've been blessed with a husband whose spiritual gift is cleaning, about the only big thing on my list each night that I feel I have to do is make supper and walk the dog. And although each day has its own goals - grocery shopping, wash the car, vacuum - it's almost like those things don't feel enough like work to me.

Okay, it sounds like I'm complaining, but really I'm not. I know that I have been richly blessed with so many things and opportunities that I do not deserve, but I'm just trying to find my way in this new phase of life. And although this may sound counterintuitive, the less things I have to do, the less productive I am. You would think that since I have all this spare time and energy that I'd be adding projects to my list left and right. But I don't. I get complacent and lazy when I'm out of the routine of being busy.

So new goal: add things to my to-do list, big or small. There are big things that I've been dreaming about doing for awhile now and the fear of failure and the unknown has been holding me back. There are small things that stare me in the face everyday. I need to quit waiting for everything to be perfect because it never will be. I just need to start...and nows the time.

image via

goals :: june 2012

Is it really June already? Have we really been living here for a year? Do we really move in 2 weeks into our very own home? Yes, yes, and YES! Amazing. 


Goals for June:

• Pack/move/unpack
• Start taking a multivitamin
• Be a better friend
• Enjoy the moment without always looking forward to the future
• Take a family vacation
• Bake a birthday cake for Tim
• Really take to heart Philippians 4:6-7
• Crank out some Pinterest crafts
• Start one new design project

June, with all your warmth, sunshine, and big life changes, I welcome you with open arms!