Depot

1. Painting on the side of a sandwhich shop near the old train depot

2. Mug at a local coffee shop

3. Tickets used for the Hunger Games and the BYU Ballroom Dance performance

4. Painting on the back of a building, near my favorite restaurant downtown

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! Time really is just cruising by! I can barely keep up. April is nearly upon us! We are being rewarded with rain showers {oh, and hail} this morning. While the first day of spring has come and gone, it is not quite ready here. It's alright, I've gotten plenty of use out of my Hunters in the meantime.

Because time seems to be passing so quickly, I am trying to embrace the joy of the moment and be intentional about experiencing today, every day. How do you do this?

xx



I'm at a point in my life..

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I'm at a point in my life when...

I want my friendships to be more intimate.

I want to enjoy some of the returns on my investment in the future.

I highly value quality linens.

Yogurt for lunch isn't enough.

Calm nights in are more desirable than high energy nights out.

I am purposeful about my attitudes.

I am seeing my impact on others.

Two or more alcoholic beverages leave me hung over.

I would rather go to bed early than stay up late..

Things seem to be completely out of place, but it doesn't bother me like it used to.

xx

Too much of a good thing?

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Sometimes I feel very cluttered by my own belongings. Cosmetics seem to be the worst because they are always small with attractive packaging and are seemingly harmless with the promise of better skin, better lips, better eyes, better life.. Yet I tend to buy similar items, thus I have products are that nearly identical to each other and they build up! I took the step to clean some of it out a couple months back. I went through and set aside items that are still good yet get rare use. I shared them with a friend. 

The funny thing is, after giving her a rather full bag of products, I have only missed one of them and only one time. This tells me I have plenty and could probably stand to get rid of more!

The root of my bad habits:

*I like to purchase back ups. When I fall in love with a particular product {a lip balm for example}, if it isn't easily accessible, I'll get multiples for "when I run out". However, I rarely get to the back ups before I have fallen in love with another similar item.

*In the moment, I believe the promises of the product. They will change your life by bringing fresh color to your cheeks, a flush to your lips, enhancing the whites of your eyes and by golly it will make you more lovable, intelligent, and well rounded! Whew!

*I hold on to gifted items out of sentimental attachment. When a person has thought of me and gifts me a product of some kind, I hold onto it thinking I will use it and how terrible it would be for me to get rid of the kind offering of my loved one! However, many times the color is wrong, the formula doesn't work with my skin, and it sits on the shelf.

To address this issue, I plan to regularly audit my cosmetics stash to weed out unloved items to either pass on to a close fried who may give it a welcome home or through it away all together. For unopened items, I'll donate them.

Do any of you face this problem?

xx

Taking a moment..

{photo via my instagram}

Today I am taking a moment to reflect on how lucky I am. 

I have:

*Financial stability - While I am not anywhere near rich, I can pay my bills every month with some left over for small indulgences

*Supportive loved ones - Between my best friends scattered across the country, Boyfriend, and my family, I have a strong support network who I can find comfort with.

*More than enough - I own plenty of possessions, have a stocked fridge and pantry, and intellectual property. 

*Flexibility - My job has full benefits, vacation and sick days, and an understanding supervisor who encourages holistic well being

*Faith - My spirituality has grown proved to provide a sound foundation.

*Privilege - As a white woman who is able, educated, fluent in English, and middle class, I have privilege I was born with. This isn't because I was special; it was the luck of the draw. I have certainly benefited from that luck. 

It is clear to me that I am very blessed.

In what ways are you blessed.

xx

Home again

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Hello lovelies! I am home from sunny Phoenix! And it is RAINING! Actually, I enjoy a good rain, so I'm choosing to take it in good spirits. While away, I attended two conferences. One was designed to help me find a new position with another institution and the next was designed to help me be better at working with college students. It was interesting, thoughtful, and entirely exhausting. I've come home with a new vigor for my work and where I may be headed next.

In the meantime, I need to catch up on work {oh my, so much!}, all of your blogs and general life stuff. Like laundry {yes, I'm very glamorous}. Happy Friday, Loves! How are you spending the weekend?

xx



Instagram Monday

1. Lunch in the Cafe below Hotel San Carlos

2. Reading for pleasure

3. Trekking through the airport

4. Sunrise on way to Seattle layover

5. Calvin Klein dress; I love polka dots! 

6. Tea and Crumpets Essie varnish

7. Outfit while on travel

8. Madewell polka dot skimmers

9. Colorful Phoenix artwork

10. Washington and Central, downtown Phoenix

11. Breakfast at The Good Egg

12. Local shoe repair shop

Hello lovelies! I have been in Phoenix, Arizona for work. The weather is beautiful, the city is full of art and good food, and I have been extremely busy bustling around! Living out of a suitcase isn't my strong suit so I am looking forward to being home again. In the meantime, I'll be attending lots of conference sessions and hopefully taking in more of what Phoenix has to offer!

xx

Blogger behavior; puchasing power

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Happy Monday, lovelies! This year, I have been focused on my consumer habits. It can be so simple to get wrapped up in the high of purchasing, but after the card is swiped or the order button is clicked, it is almost like the purchase never happened. The drive to consume still remains! This, my friends, is evidence of consumption of goods being driven by desire, not by need. Have you fallen in this trap?

However, I'm positive I'll still buy a few items here and there that strictly fall in the "desire" category. It is my aim that these items are quality items that are a special treat.

xx

Friday confessions

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Hello lovelies! It is finally Friday! This weekend I'll be prepping for a work related trip. While I'd love to sleep in for a lazy Saturday, the fact of the matter is I'll be up and at'em early. However, don't let me spoil your fun. Someone needs to cozy up with magazines, Gossip Girl reruns and late morning tea for me.

This week, I confess that I am rubbish at painting my nails. It's true! I'm not nearly patient enough and always smudge them within moments. If I had the disposable income for it, I'd have someone else do it for me. Instead, I usually leave them bare. Natural is in, no?

How are you spending your weekend?

xx