on feeling free

1. I went to yoga yesterday afternoon.... I think I'll be back. I've done it a handful of times previously but there was something about yesterdays class that was different. I'm not sure if it's me being in a different place in my life that made me appreciate it more. Or it could be that I'm way more stressed out that I was so I need it more. Or it may be that the teacher was able to instruct the class better/differently than before so I enjoyed it more. But regardless of the reasoning I thoroughly loved it. I don't know if I'll ever be a yoga master or if I'll "find my soul" stretching on a mat but as long as it keeps giving me a fresh start and a relaxed feeling like it did yesterday then I'll keep going. I left with such positive energy and felt like I had already accomplished so much for the day.

2. Maybe it was the positive feelings overflowing from yoga but volunteering last night at Hospice was a real joy. I really felt like I was making a difference last night. Even if it was just in relieving the House Aid by running errands and picking up dinner I felt like I was supposed to be there. And what's even better, I was offered a letter of recommendation for med school by the volunteer coordinator without even having to ask for one. I was in the right place at the right time and really felt like I was being thanked on an individual level. I also think I might stop by the local library and check out a few new Chicken Soup for the Soul books. I forgot how inspiring those books are. I got the chance to read a few stories to one of the patients last night and loved how they made me feel and how she smiled at the end of each one.

3. I made some serious progress on my paper today. A few hours at Starbucks later I had downed a bunch of iced coffee and was really rolling. (PS- if you don't have a registered Starbucks gift card, you need to get one. I recently made it to Gold Level, whoo hooo, which means I get FREE refills on all iced coffee and teas. Can you say sweet!?) Some parts were really hard for me to write, I wanted to give up or move on instead of write what needed to be said. But I was motivated enough to get through it and write. Not only for the sake of including anything that's made me who I am but also for my own comfort. I do admit that I ended up removing some of what I wrote but even just to get it down on paper, well technically on the screen, helped me. I never thought writing about something would make me feel this relieved, free, and rewarded.

4. I'll leave you with this image of what we saw on our late night Taco Bell run last night simply because I think it's hilarious. I know they're required to put up a sign about height clearance for trucks and what not, but how clever! How could a car duck? :-)

on being matchy-matchy

When getting ready for my day this morning I picked out my favorite Gap Jean Shorts (because they're super comfy, the perfect length, and the perfect size) and a simple red tank from American Eagle (because it's a bright color and easily worn by itself). I decided to pair it with my Invisible Children bracelets, one in white and one in red, to accent my outfit. These bracelets are awesome, simple and different. I love being coordinated, I think it really ties the whole thing together. I was headed out to Starbucks to make some serious progress on my autobiography.

I slipped on my Old Navy flips and made a mental note, "am I being too matching right now with red flip flops?" And I decided, "Nah it's okay..." I grabbed my computer, my planner, my charger and my handy Free Handcrafted Beverage coupon that I mentioned here.

Packing up my computer, I realized, wait a second, my computer case is red too... maybe I should ditch it... I figured I wasn't going far, I could carry it by itself from my car into Starbucks.

I never go to Starbucks without my lovely Cold Drink Cup but didn't realize until I got there that what do you know, it has red too! I love the festive straw that came with the cups around the Holidays but seriously... more red? I got over it, enjoyed my free Venti Iced Carmel Macchiato, nonfat milk, extra carmel and attempted to write. I've been having some significant writers block lately but was able to get some good planning done as well as a little bit of actual writing. The air conditioning was blasting inside so I eventually had to head home to warm up a little. Plus I needed a break from attempting to be creative and my stomach was growling.

I step outside and what do you know, my car is red too. I never even think about it on a normal basis but now, everything from my whole day is the same color. And oddly enough, red's not even my favorite color. I decided, I'm not going anywhere else today until I change something about my matchy-matchy outfit. And to think it was all accidental. I felt like a little kid who's mom dresses them for the day. There are many many pictures of me where my shirt, the huge bows in my hair, my tights and even my shoelaces were the same exact color... but that was when I was six.... not twenty-one.

What do you think? Can you be too coordinated as an adult? Should I have stopped at the red flip flops? Has anyone else had a day like today... or am I the only freak odd one?

needs to/wants to/can't be done

Dear Stomach,

Can you please stop grumbling?

Especially since I know you're full of pizza pockets, veggies and dip.

Slightly Annoyed,

I hate stomach noises

Dear MSAR Book,

Want to just tell me where to apply?

It'll save me a lot of time and effort if you just decide for me.

I love sticky-notes so please mark all corresponding pages accordingly.

Thanks for the help,

Future MD

Dear New Apartment,

We would love it if you just grew, oh, say 200 extra square feet.

It would make moving that much less stressful.

Sincerely,

Your new tenant

Dear Chardonnay in the Fridge,

If there is anyway for you to make it Friday already (or even Thursday) I'd appreciate it.

Indulging on you by myself isn't the best option for today.

But you're new and I want you.

Love,

I want it to feel like summer

Dear Autobiography,

Do you really need to be 10 pages long?

Are there really that many things you need to know about me?

Aren't bullet points so much more effective?

From,

Writer's Block

Dear Current Nail Polish,

Please leave so I can replace you.

It's magenta's turn.

Xoxo,

Pedicure Princess

Dear Gym,

Be good to me today...

From,

Declining Motivation

Dear Resume,

Why must you be so difficult?

Can't you just be good for every job listing?

I swear, you're so needy that I have to keep changing you all the time.

Always,

Needs money now

Dear Nook,

I'm sorry for neglecting you.

It's not that I don't love the novel you bring to me, I've just been busy.

Can we meet later this week?

Please?

It's time for a story

Dear Free-Coffee Coupon,

I plan on using you soon.

Thanks so much for giving me a free handcrafted drink.

Love,

Caffeine Addict

Dear Best Friend,

Please hurry up and get here.

I miss you.

Always,

Your BFF

on a daddy's girl

Be thankful for those in your life. Enjoy their flaws, their smile, their courage, their strengths. Tell them your stories, listen to theirs. Cherish their gifts and also their sacrifices. Respect their encouragement and guidance. Hold their hand close to yours. Give a hug because you care. Say I love you because you do.

"Old as she was, she still missed her daddy sometimes"

~Gloria Naylor

on apartment decorating

In less than a month.... we're moving. I have to say that I'm pretty excited about it because I'm really pumped to have a new, clean slate to decorate. There were some decorating attempts in our current apartment but things were more just thrown together with what we had. I really want to try and make this apartment feel more like our own place as opposed to just where our stuff is. My dislike towards renting has really increased lately and I can't wait to be able to paint walls, change flooring, and make major updates but for now we have to make due with minimal, but hopefully significant additions.

I've been looking online for decorating ideas so we don't go into the new place with no concept of what we want. Today I spend the afternoon on Better Homes and Gardens looking at their great apartment improvement pages. Here is what I'm loving right now...

+ This kitchen is most likely close to the size ours will be. (I haven't actually seen it, but I'm going tomorrow.) I'm pretty sure I'm going to get a rug for the floor, it adds texture and definitely makes it feel more like home. While on our vacation, I got a gorgeous print of extra ripe, bright yellow bananas. I knew right away that the print was going in the kitchen! I went to Hob Lob when they had a sale for frames and got a set of awesome, denim-blue colored frames and plan on printing two more pictures from our trip to go along with it. So instead of a creepy man in our kitchen, we'll have a nice collage of prints.

+ I absolutely loooove the idea of this storage. It's hard to tell in the picture but it makes use of that awkward space underneath your kitchen sink. While ours will always have cabinet doors, I still plan on making trips to Ikea or the Container Store to purchase some organizing things for under here. Rolls of toilet paper or paper-towels, extra sponges, extra candles, and possibly even scissors/office supplies and some files we want to keep handy.
+ Since we're both students, we always have a lot of papers, notebooks, text books, note cards, calculators, sticky-notes, etc etc lying around. It's always driven me crazy that we don't really have a place to put them where they're not so... ugly and cluttered. Boxes with lids would be the perfect solution. We could even divvy them up as to whos are who's. While I would love to also add a cute hallway table like this into our personal collection of furniture, I'm not sure that's going to happen but we have plenty of spaces under our current coffee tables for sturdy boxes like these.

+ I've wanted a desk for far too long. I'm sick of sitting doing homework on the dining room table simply because it always ends up one of two ways. 1: I have to clear off all my supplies so we can have dinner. I usually have my computer (with charger), multiple books, pens, highlighters, notes, and stikies spread everywhere. And to be honest, it's a little bit of a hassle to move it all for dinner knowing I'll be back in the same spot in less than an hour. Or 2: I leave all said-supplies where they are, spread where we're supposed to eat, which reduces us to eating on the couch. Yes, there are sometimes when I like it. Ordering pizza so we can watch a movie during dinner, perfect time for the couch. But when we have salads, or pasta or anything that requires a knife and a fork, I much prefer the table. To be short, this table, matching with other furniture and extremely simple would serve as a perfect spot for me.

Have you decorated an apartment you rent(ed)? What worked for you and what didn't? Any tips?