Adventure Awaits

 I have always tried to think of life as an adventure. I’m not a creature who likes change (probably because it’s usually forced upon me rather than something I’ve chosen), so I tend to struggle with it. 

It’s been about a month since we found out that we have to move— that our beloved landlord’s marriage has ended and so he is selling the townhouse we have lived in for the better part of a decade. Our plan was to start searching for a forever home after our wedding, and now this has sort of forced our hand to move before we are ready, which means finding a suitable rental for the in between time. 

I remember house hunting with a certain fondness. I’ve moved about 14 times in my life and most of it was within childhood. I recall my sister and I playing with paint samples and carpet samples, searching for attics or hidden passageways, climbing a great tree (“a liability”, my mum would say), or hoping for a huge yard of our own. 

Rose colored glasses of youth, because let’s be real— it kind of sucks. Now I understand the slightly harried frazzle of my mother as we searched, the things that we thought were cool I now just see as dollar signs. 

A few things I have noticed: it is the middle of a pandemic, and as such, people are charging astronomical prices— and they’re getting the money they ask for. Places are going like hot cakes and some of the ones we have really liked we haven’t even been able to see. I’ve become a veritable Goldilocks, unable to find the “just right” between modern conveniences like central air or, you know, closets, alongside old charm like built in bookshelves and crown moulding. 

It is maddening to me that people block off functional fireplaces. I didn’t really appreciate how attached I’ve grown to our fireplace until it occurred to me that our days with it are numbered. We have yet to find a place with a functioning fireplace. 

Another thing: what is the deal with the basement toilet?! I read an interesting article on the history of it, but it still doesn’t really explain why we haven’t since built bathrooms around these random toilets. 

I sort of have caviar taste on a burger budget, so I’m looking forward to the day we can create a space we love that is all ours, and we aren’t at the mercy of waiting for someone to paint the chipped paint or replace the missing posts on the unstained deck as they ask for $1900 a month for a place with no closets and no yard. 

I know a home is only as strong as its foundation, but also, as Annie Dillard said, “how we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives,” so the home where we spend the bulk of our time should be a safe, lovely, comforting place. You know, like where we are now. 

In the meantime, I will be praying for the perfect place to come along and hoping for the moment that makes us feel all yellow and glowy. 

Spring Essentials

 

    

    The unmistakeable feel of spring is in the air. The days are getting longer, there are daffodils, tulips, and forsythia everywhere, and even the rain smells different. Each hike we take, Shelley and I notice new buds on the trees and everything just seems to be coming alive after the long, dark winter. 

    I'm linking some of my favorites from this spring. Florals for spring are not groundbreaking but they make me happy, so I'm excited to wear this Target dress and this American Eagle romper. 

    I have worn both this Madewell scarf and this pair of gingham Vans for years (they're a Madewell collab and not in stock anymore, but all Vans are great) and they're such a cute way to add a bit of flair to a basic white t-shirt and ponytail. I also have been in a yellow gold phase for a while and these threadbare rings from Catbird are a daily addition. 

    For our home, we got this tulip wreath from JoAnn Fabrics and it is such a nice pop of color against the blue door and the yellow daffodils, and it makes me happy. Shelley loves when we burn this rose water and ivy candle, and between that and the lilies & hyacinth we have on the table, it smells very floral in here most of the time. 

As far as personal care, I've been using this Tula blue light sunscreen since the fall (literally the same tube) and love the dewy glow it gives, but it has the added perk of being SPF and protecting from pollution as well. I also did a hair mask for the first time last month and have incorporated it into my weekly routine-- plus this coconut kind smells SO good & makes me feel like I am at the beach! 

Happy Spring everyone! 😌

    

         

One Year Later

    It's been a year. One year of Zoom calls and social distancing and wearing masks. One year without eating in a restaurant. One year since I've seen most people. One year of trying to be creative with date nights and parties. A twice-postponed wedding. One year of fear and anxiety and shock and disappointment. 

    I've been using the One Second Every Day app on my phone since the start of 2020. Looking at the year in review video, you can see exactly when things went down: my photos went from a mix of random, everyday things like Zorro and a fire alongside taking Trent to Disney on Ice (February 29), walking around the Strip District with Shelley (March 8), to suddenly unnerving moments. 

    We went to the movies on March 10 because Tuesday = $5 movies, and while sitting in a theater full of coughing people, I began to feel uneasy. Those feelings were confirmed when we went to Sam's Club, where pallets are stacked ceiling high with supplies, and it was nearly empty-- no toilet paper, nothing in the freezers, three cases of water. Our final trivia night with Ben & Katelyn (March 11), where the prizes went from cool things like free growlers to toilet paper, as a joke... or not. Our food tasting for our wedding (March 12) where everyone sat distanced, and when we prepared to leave, Shelley shared that schools were closing and I watched the color drain from my mother's face. 

    I went with my mum after work on Friday, March 13 to pick up Pippin, her baby bunny that Shelley, Elizabeth, and I coerced her into getting. Pip was in a box on the porch and we were instructed to leave the money under the mat. When my mum stopped at the store to get food for Shelley's birthday dinner, I sat in the car with Pip. The lot was completely full, and it took quite some time. I looked up from time to time as sunset became twilight and finally my mum emerged with a few bags. I've known her long enough (my entire life) to know her emotions, and I could immediately tell she was trying not to cry. When she opened the door, she was shaking. People were fighting right in front of her, she said. Pushing and shoving and screaming and grabbing things-- she managed to get the last bit of beef and a box of pasta and some stewed tomatoes and a can of paste-- things to make spaghetti and meatballs per Shelley's request. 

    The following day, we went to Mum's to have cherry pie and pasta for Shelley and worried about what was to come. The news alerts were coming in constantly. The day after, March 15, I went to work with Shelley to prep a big catering order she had. The following day, Shelley's actual birthday, the world shut down. From there, every photo for a few weeks was just Zorro & Ru, plants, coloring pages, baking... 

I lost myself for a minute there. 

I think we all did. 

But from that time came hope and resilience. We learned to adjust to life with masks and social distancing (well, most of us did) to care for ourselves and others. It was an act of selflessness and love and sacrifice. Holidays were celebrated creatively. Trips were cancelled. We stayed home because we cared, and learned how to foster our relationships in different ways. We SAW ourselves, and each other, possibly for the first time, because we were all stripped to the rawest essence of who we are, and forced to awaken to the reckoning that awaited in the form of things like BLM and the election. We adapted and overcame and persisted. 

Now, there is hope on the horizon. There is a chance for us to come out of this-- not to "go back to normal" (because what even IS normal, anyway?!) but to take what we've learned about ourselves and each other and carry it with us always, to become better versions of the empty, broken husks of humanity we were before. Now we know what it is to rest. Now we know what it is to talk to one another with the empathy and compassion of a shared experience and apply that to ALL aspects of life beyond a worldwide pandemic. 

Initially, I wanted this to be more of a list of the things that have gotten me through this past year, as sort of a time capsule for me to look back on. I am going to include that here, and encourage you to peruse it if you're looking for something fresh to get you through the next few months. We're not there yet, but we're close. Stay strong, live well, and spread the love. 

Things That Have Gotten Me Through 2020 (and 2021 so far): 

• dining al fresco at home 
• plants (so many)
• coloring
• the wild bunny in our yard we dubbed Chester 
• Nintendo Switch
• virtual tours 
• puzzles 
• "Schitt's Creek"
• Disney+
• watching "Seinfeld" from episode 1 of the first season all the way through 
• "Gilmore Girls"
• celebrating our would-be wedding weekend at Trough Creek with a slice of rainbow cake 
• hiking and all the programs at Raccoon
• learning to skateboard
• learning to paddleboard 
• baking ultimate chocolate cake 
• our backyard oasis 
• cheese pizza 
• riding bikes 
• celestial events 
• online shopping (secondhand) -- as much as I hate to admit this, at least it is sustainable!
• seeing the good in each day with a post and caption on Instagram (as basic as it sounds)
• gratitude journaling 
• praying without ceasing-- the brightest joys, the deepest gratitudes, and the greatest fears 
• "Life as We Knew It" series
• Harry Potter series 
• "Where the Crawdads Sing"
• "Tooth & Claw"
• "Is This Anything?" made me laugh so much 
• "We'll Always Have Paris" whisked me off on travels 
• the release of "Midnight Sun"
• the brief moments I felt like cooking dinner (thanks, Hello Fresh!)
• seeing masks as a fashion opportunity instead of a fashion hindrance 
• video messaging my sister 
• discovering essential oils 
• my mum and our phone calls 
• fire side chats and camping with our little quarantine bubble 
• Zoom game nights with friends 
• brightening up our bedroom 
• creating new traditions in the midst of the old 
• Zorro & Ru 
• music 
• Vogue magazine 
• The New Yorker-- especially the cartoons (they have their own Instagram page)
• stepping up my clothing game when I leave the house (why not get dressed up to get groceries?)
• Hocking Hills for NYE with fireworks, champagne, kisses, and a wish for a happy & healthy 2021
• Shelley, always. 

It's the Happiest Season!

Whenever the weather gets cold and the nights grow long, I find myself wanting to fight it. I lament that by the time I finish work, twilight is approaching within the next half hour, limiting outdoor hikes and any access to vitamin D. 

I've talked a good bit about hygge on this blog, and this post will be added to the list. I read a book that talked about hygge and welcoming a slower season by embracing the darkness and the time indoors as a way to reinvent ourselves-- so that when the spring thaws and life is made new, we too may emerge anew. 

Our home is currently adorned with twinkle lights on any surface available-- wrapped with garland around every railing and on our mantle, our deck, and our front door. We have candles along the fireplace, pops of red, swags of garland over the windows in the bedroom, and a soft glow all around. I am trying to truly prepare myself in every way to hunker down for the long winter. 

One of my favorite things to do, especially at this time of year, is watch Christmas movies. My sister Elizabeth and I laughingly exchanged screenshots of the lists in our phone, filled with every Christmas movie we've seen and loved. Shells and I have been watching them cozied up by the tree in front of the fire or using a projector on the ceiling in our room (we got this projector a few months ago and were using it to screen movies on the fence in the backyard). 

Although my phone list is twice this long, I have assembled 15 must-watch Christmas movies (along with commentary).  

1) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (This is Shelley's favorite-- both the old cartoon and new cartoon versions, but we do not mention the unspeakable live action one.)

2) Christmas Vacation (My family, like most, quote this annually ("I don't KNOW Margot!"))

3) Home Alone & Home Alone Lost in New York (Okay, technically two, but both worthy of The List. Home Alone ties for first place as my favorite Christmas movie ever. Elizabeth, Paige, and I know the entire movie by heart, and spent much of my high school years trying to rewrite a new script for "Angels with Filthy Souls".)

4) It's a Wonderful Life (The other spot in my tied-for-favorite Christmas movie. Christmastime is not officially here for me until I've entered Bedford Falls, and I watch it every Christmas Eve.)

5) A Christmas Story (A classic, and while not my favorite on this list, still a must watch.)

6) A Christmas Carol (Shelley's favorite version is the Jim Carrey/Disney version. We used to go annually to see this and The Nutcracker downtown, and that version is my favorite!)

7) The Nativity Story (A lovely retelling of the birth of Jesus, and the ending makes me cry every single time because it is so pure and wholesome and beautiful.)

8) The Family Man (This is almost a delightfully odd, modern twist on It's a Wonderful Life. It has Nicolas Cage, which will be a deciding factor for most people either way.) 

9) The Santa Clause (Oh, how I wish this were real. Side note: the sleigh's cocoa/chocolate chip cookie dispenser belongs in my car, Arlandria. Why have they not done this yet? Screw bluetooth, I want a hot beverage dispenser!)

10) A Charlie Brown Christmas (Any time it snows, the soundtrack from this special plays in my head. I also love that it focuses on the true meaning of Christmas.) 

11) Happiest Season (A new Hulu movie-- Shells & I watched it the day it came out. Cheesy Christmas hijinks, Kristen Stewart, Pittsburgh, an LGBT love story that isn't abysmal or depressing, and queens from RuPaul's Drag Race singing "Must Be Santa"-- these are a few of my favorite things...)

12) The Holiday (This is adorable and charming and makes me want to spend Christmas in a cottage in the UK.)

13) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (If you're going to watch a claymation special, this one should be it-- even though Santa is kind of a jerk, if this version is to be believed.)

14) Frosty the Snowman (Who doesn't love Frosty? If only we had a white Christmas... Do kids even have enough snow to build snowmen nowadays?!)

15) Miracle on 34th Street (Preferably the one from 1994 because Mara Wilson is a gem and it's the version Elizabeth and I watched on tape, so, nostalgia.) 

If you are looking for a good cocoa or wassail recipe, see my post from last year here-- it's the perfect accompaniment to a Christmas movie marathon! Hope you're all staying safe and cozy during this happiest of seasons! 

Shopping Small with a Cup of Cheer

I've been doing a lot of reflecting this season... well, this year, actually. I've learned a few things about myself (I still generally despise working out but like biking; I tend to consume news either in vast quantities or not at all) and then Shelley and I have made some decisions as a couple (we want to travel more when we finally can; and thank God in heaven that we are pretty madly in love considering we've been cooped up in our home together essentially nonstop for the time it takes to develop a full-term baby). 

I make little lists in my phone of things I miss-- mostly people, or the occasional experience. I am excited to eat at Altius again, and to go to the beach, for example. All of this is a roundabout way of saying that what I really miss are the moments in life with the people with whom I choose to spend my time. 

This year, then, I can't give my usual Christmas gifts. I tend to go for experiences or things people will find practical and useful in their day to day, with a bit of a luxurious gift added in for good measure. This is last year's gift guide, in case you are curious. 

Since we missed Thanksgiving, and I honestly can't imagine what Christmas is going to be like, I have decided to shop small this year. I generally try to do small business shopping anyway, but I mean shopping small-scale. The perspective I've garnered whilst at a distance has shown me that what truly matters is the time spent with the people you love, and that is not something that I can wrap up in brown paper and string or accent with baked orange slices and pine cones, regardless of how soothing I find that whole activity. I acknowledge, dear readers, that that is very cheesy of me to say, but I will presume you all feel the same way after yesterday's socially distanced holiday. 

I cannot justify trying to come up with gifts people may like while they can't do the things that they normally would, and I refuse to stress over it. I can't get Shelley concert tickets because there are no concerts. I can't take my mum to the symphony because there is no symphony. I am going to get things that are both useful in their daily lives but also elegantly luxurious, because we all need to be able to luxuriate in something these days. 

Today, I browsed some of my favorite small shops and curated a list of things to get my nearest and dearest, and while it may not arrive as quickly as with Amazon Prime, I found joy in knowing I would be supporting someone who may be struggling and also bringing merriment to people I love. 

1) Not Perfect Linen

2) Headbands of Hope 

3) Gorjana

4) Clad & Cloth 

5) The Giving Keys 

6) literally any Etsy shop 

7) any small bookseller 

8) Honey Lake Boutique

9) Chalk Full of Love 

10) Indie & Harper 

vin chaude

While I was doing my online shopping, Shelley and I made vin chaude (inspired by the latest book I read, We Met in December (delightfully Christmassy)) to sip while shopping. In case you are interested, here is the recipe we cobbled together from a few we found:

2 bottles of red wine (we used Yellow Tail Jammy Red Roo)

1 cup of brandy

6 cinnamon sticks 

10 whole cloves 

1 teaspoon anise extract 

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice 

1/2 cup of fresh cranberries 

1/2 orange, thinly sliced 

Just put it in the crock pot on high for about ten minutes and then turn it down to warm. We let it sit for about three hours. Cheers! Happy small shopping!

Travel Essentials (Because I Miss It)

 The other day, a couple friends and I were talking about how much we miss traveling. I've never been out of the country, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming of little provincial towns in France, sleeping in a glass igloo in Iceland and looking at the Northern Lights, or walking through cobblestone streets in a Mediterranean village. 

At this point, though, I would take something closer to home. We postponed our wedding, which was a drag for a number of reasons, including the time we were looking forward to spending together, just Shells and I, exploring a new place. We cancelled a trip we had scheduled to spend Halloweekend in Salem and New Haven. 

The books I read do a good job of transporting me to a different time and place, but for those of you who, like me, are chomping at the bit to hit the road again, I've compiled a list of my travel essentials so you're ready to go!

1) a hat-- for me, this varies between beanies and fedoras, but I don't think you can ever go wrong in any season with a wide brimmed hat (effortlessly cool in fall/winter, sun protection in spring/summer). Lack of Color or Yellow 108 are my favorites. 

2) a scarf-- this one is Madewell, but I've got some from my mum, some from random little boutiques, and the ever-wonderful blanket scarf, which doubles up as a shawl when it's too cold on a train/plane/car ride

3) reading material-- always at least one book and one magazine

4) essential oils-- admittedly, a fairly new addition for me, but once you know how great peppermint, tea tree, or lavender oil is in a pinch, you won't leave home without it. 

5) The Five Minute Journal-- this makes many of my lists. It keeps me on track with gratitude and there is a definite shift in my anxious mind when I force myself to focus on the positive. I also like to keep a record of the fun I have on a trip, and even if a full journaling session isn't on your itinerary, who can't spare five minutes a day?

6) sunscreen-- I recently have been vacillating between a basic Aveeno mineral sunscreen and this No. 7 cream my mum recommended to me (thanks to the little line in my forehead that doesn't quite go away now for making me really up my skincare game). 

7) my makeup trinity-- whether I am cabining or road tripping or taking a longer trip, I will not leave home without my chapstick, Glossier cloud paint (I picked beam because it's got a nice natural peachy glow) and Maybelline The Rocket mascara. I've been using these for at least five years (minus the chapstick, which I came out of the womb with, I think) and have zero complaints.

8) Neutrogena facial cleansing wipes-- these are wonderful for a pick-me-up after travel (seriously, why does sitting in a car for 16 hours wreak havoc on oil glands?) or even as a quick face wash option if we are camping. I like the lavender scented ones. 

9) a portable phone charger-- Amazon has some great ones. 

10) a good dry shampoo (Batiste has a nice little travel-sized bottle).

What are your travel essentials? Where are you planning to go once it's safe to adventure again? 

 

It's About Time

 This title does not actually apply to those of you who may've wondered if I abandoned my blog altogether. 

I am referring to the most wonderful time of the year. I know, I know-- I generally try to wait until the day after Thanksgiving too. On a normal year, while everyone else is out getting trampled for doorbuster sales, I have always been at home, listening to the iconic string music ushering in Nat King Cole's "The Christmas Song" and hanging ornaments that tell the story of my life, year by year, on a tree we just cut down. We have what my family has affectionately referred to as "Part Two" with turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and the cranberry sauce that maintains the shape of the can (this is absolutely essential). 

This is not a normal year, though, as anyone who exists on this planet would tell you. As such, I am ready for a bit of cheer. Not only have I had sort of a weird month personally (go to the dermatologist, seriously, even if you think you don't need to), but also this year has been bizarre. 

The traditions we like to observe year by year have been skewed, thrown off course by something that is invisible to us, apart from very real, very visible effects. 

 I wait all year for fall, and in a way I feel like this pandemic forced me to fully appreciate the autumnal beauty in a way I haven't before, because I spent so much more time outside at state parks. 

On any other year, I would see Christmas decor in stores in September as something of a sacrelige-- allow each holiday its due. This year, however, I left an eye appointment, and in my eye-diluted-blown-out pupils-state, Shelley and I went to At Home, and I ended up leaving with an angel ornament, a Victorian wagon ornament, tiny tree bulbs, two small trees, a sequined deer, and a glittery gold deer. It is worth mentioning each of these were layered with glitter, which is something I typically veer from. Perhaps it was the only thing that caught my blurred vision. Perhaps it's because in the midst of all this crap, I wanted a little sparkle. Either way, I found myself paying and walking out into brilliant September sunshine with two bags of Christmas decor-- most unusual. 

I managed to make it to this week, but nonetheless, we carted the decorations up from the basement and there is garland on my mantle, stockings on the hearth, and mistletoe hanging in the doorway. As soon as a Christmas tree farm opens in a 30 mile radius, I will be there, Goldilocks-ing my way through each tree until I find one that borders between Griswold and "needing a little love", and I will enjoy the season of light and love at the end of this bizarre, sometimes horrible, always hopeful 2020.