Dance Dance

I was never a dancer... perhaps in another life I could shimmy and shake with a little more grace than this current body I inhabit...

As much as I wish I could dance like a ballerina with smooth, crisp movements and grace like a swan on a placid lake... I'm more like a cat thrown into raging rapids- flailing and gasping for air...

No matter, I am still captivated by those who can do something so mesmerizing using their muscle control and concentration alongside a melody.

On My Mind...

Being sick is no fun, but tea makes it better <3
I miss my cousin back in MD very much.
Barnes and Nobles is like a grownup playground. Books=monkeybars
I start my new job in 5 days...So excited!
Going to Asheville on Saturday to cure wanderlust, celebrate a birthday over lunch, and hiking!
Cinnamon is God-sent.
Black leggings in 85 degree weather- Not properly thought through...
RomComs are good for the soul
...So are SitComs.
I want to make a tasty lunch today of Quinoa, sweet potatoes, and tomaters. Or a lean cuisine.
Joshua Radin makes any illness feel like a care tossed in the wind
Putting together my favorite pics for a new multi-photo frame! Say Cheezzeee
I wish I could still play the drums and the glockenspiel (Yes, I used to play the glockenspiel)
Rainy days are splendid
I can't pull off red lips, but rosy pink ones are a go!
Should I run today? Or should I just walk? Or Gym? Or exercise my right to snack?
Catching people smiling while checking their texts makes me smile.
The new John Irving book is on my radar- In One Person
It's humpday. Get humpty...

Saturday Thoughts

I listen to music way too much. I mean, WAY too much... or maybe just enough.
Being a vegan is making my eyeballs whiter. Weird? Day 4 on the V Tree!
Does yoga make people happy? Or do happy people do yoga?
I want a French Bulldog more than I want anything else. And name him Sir Charles.
Kors watches. Period
Men's forearms are sexy
There's a dog hair on my ring finger, almost mistook it as my own. Ew
I need to vaccuum...
And nap (not necessarily in that order)
I'm seeing my favorite Lizzy Boo tonight. Bring on the adventures!
Wimbledon. Sharapova
Olympics. Beckham
Go make cake, self! I finally got a big girl job (cross that off the summer list) more about this on Monday
Is it Autumn yet? I want scarves and a soy pumpkin latte, pwease!
Pinterest, you always save me from wasting time during my morning insomnia episodes
I found a jump rope!
I look goofy in bowling shoes.
Does Vanilla Ice melt?
My veins free flow with coffee
Maybe I'll start a photo journal
Putting up a help-wanted ad: In need of a good cuddle buddy
I am building a life, one small brick and smile at a time. Hashtag-Success
I moved to a pretty wonderful city...

 

Everyday I'm Hustlin'

Perhaps this is a late realization, but as I walked out of my interview this morning with Premier in Ballantyne, I started to see just how important it is to have a competitive drive.

I know what some of you may be thinking... (Is this girl really a college graduate... and just coming to this conclusion right now?)
But hear me out...

Growing up an athlete, I have always held on to a competitive drive. In sports, however, it came down to the simple fact that we were, in fact, playing a game. It was a situation day in and day out that ultimately meant walking away from the field a winner or a loser- then eating ice cream and realizing that the next game will bring another opportunity for a different outcome.

But this is the real deal... sometimes there are NO do-overs, no "next game", or second chances... When it comes to interviews and jobs (especially in this current economy), sometimes that first chance is the only... and it will decide the course of every single following day of your life. *GULP!* Scary stuff if you think about it.

So while this post has no picture or visual aid to back up this statement (whether it be relevant to you or not) I just wanted to shed light on recent understanding on the importance of competition and a competitive drive. Every day is a competition with the people around you. Luckily, this means that there are so many chances to be good at something! And even more comforting is that assurance that we don't HAVE to be good at EVEYRTHING! But it could wind down to ultimately being the best at what you are chasing, so don't shy away from working beyond your comfort zone in order to prove your skills and desire to take on opportunity- Especially if it's something you know you want and need to succeed and grow.

Why I've Been MIA

It's been close to a week since I have been able to actually sit down and write a post. Between packing up to move my life back to NC, doctors appointments, and finding the perfect coffee concoctions, I have had a hard time finding twenty minutes to share some thoughts.

Luckily, it's 10:30 on a Tuesday night, my tummy full of yummy pasta and ice cream
(goodbye celebrations with my grandparents always leave my stomach smiling)
and I have a spare few thoughts to splatter across my page...

I'm leaving on Friday to a new life full of adventures...
Or so I hope. No, I know so.
It will be tough at first. I know this...and plan to embrace it-
But can I help it if I have a panic attack at 3:24 on Tuesday afternoon
and the only remedy is green tea, honey, and all season 3 episodes of Friends?
Hardly, my dears.
But I am excited! Very excited to embark on the newest voyage into adulthood.
Responsibilities. Hardships. Joys. Tears. The Unexpected.
So happy to reunite with friends. Long lost yet not forgotten or forsaken.
Like the first jump in the swimming pool in summer
I look forward to the rush. The chill of the expected unexpected.
Bring on the thunder-showers, rainbows. Hail storms and cloudless skies.
Bring on friendships, new and old! I have plenty of room in my heart for them to grow.
Like a garden full of new seedlings. May the skies open with opportunity and growth.
And until then, in the remaining two days at home...
May I understand my place in this community, in this abode where friends melt into family
and laughter melts all anxiety, and love conquers all battles- selfish or selfless
May negativity blow away with the morning winds and my feet travel the road always traveled.
May comfort expand in my blood if only for the next 48 hours.
And may I serve my family and Lord with the utmost gratitude and appreciation
my heart may hold.

God is good. And so is His creation. Happy Hump Day, One and All.

Photo Cred: HERE

Give Without Expectations of Reciprocation

It's common for us to receive a gift from a friend and get the giddy, "Oh my gosh, I love this, Thank you so much, I love you...etc..." followed immediately by... "Gosh, now do I have to give something to them?"

I fall victim to this guilt trip, especially when it comes to birthday season and Christmas holidays. True, if someone gives me anything-I want to reciprocate the love and appreciation. But when I think about the act of giving, I love the feeling and would never expect someone to feel pressured to return the "favor". Just enjoy the act of love for one another. Ever read "The Giving Tree?" It's one of my favorite stories ever told. Nothing but pure love from the tree to her "little boy" with no expectation of a return.

How lovely the feeling of over-pouring adoration from our hearts only to provide a friend, family member, or (my favorite) a complete stranger with the emotions of love and appreciation. Today, I challenge everyone out there- Call a friends to tell them you love them, shoot them a text to let them know you are thinking of them, write them a poem, pick them a flower (or 2...or 34). Buy a stranger a cup of coffee, or simply smile at the next person who walks by and grant them a wish for a happy day ahead. Give the gift of love and appreciation without expectation of reciprocation. And the feeling you get in return will surely, purely be enough.

(Photos from WEHEARTIT)