Lessons, lately...

Go ahead and chill that second bottle. Worst case scenario: you've got a second bottle chilled. (And when is that ever a bad thing?)

If it's bad to begin with, it doesn't usually get better.

Make a day of it.

This idea of "saving it" ... don't. The adorable dress you cannot wait to wear, the bar of dark chocolate you have stashed away... wear it while it fits, eat it while it's good. Preferably wear the dress first, and then eat the chocolate (or else fit could become problematic.)

If you like the song, don't feel bad for playing it. Over and over and over. That's what "repeat" is for.

Never underestimate the power of clear nail polish.

Do you really want to be the girl on her phone? Put.it.down.

Don't be afraid to try new things, especially if your friends recommend them. Sometimes you'll be pleasantly surprised (almond milk!) and other times you'll have the satisfaction of saying "I told you it would be terrible!" (hi-low... ugh please go away)

You can choose to be a critic or a fan... Our little secret, being a fan is much more fun. Seriously, when was the last time you heard of a Critic Club? Doesn't happen.

If you don't ask for it, the answer will always be no.

Give (genuine) compliments.

[image via Pretty Stuff]

Lessons, lately...

Sometimes you just need to hear your mom say, "I'm proud of you." Those 4 words can be remarkably reassuring, even when you're not so sure yourself. It's funny, because deep down I always know my mom is proud of me (just like I never question if my parents love me) but there are little moments in life when hearing those words can be so powerful and encouraging. I hope when I'm a mom, I know when to say them.


And even at 22, your dad can fix anything. He's the person I call when my iPhone is acting up (even though he isn't tech savvy... in the least) or when the water goes out mid-shower (mid-shampoo, nonetheless) and I have to be at work in 30 minutes (yep, that happened this week too.)


Know what makes you happy. I'm not talking promotion at work, new car happy. Coming home to a clean house and a glass of wine. A little something sweet. Glossy magazines. And take measures to ensure your happiness. Tidy up before you leave the house. Keep a bottle of wine in the fridge and a bar of quality dark chocolate in the pantry. Subscribe. 


Not to sound like a Jewel song, but there's something to be said for your heart & intuition. Listen to your gut. That nagging, gnawing feeling, the voice that says something's off. I've spent years trying to ignore it, writing it off as anxiety, fear, insecurity, and worry. But time and time again, life proves it right. The people you were leery of, the places you didn't want to go... right time and time again. 


New clothes. When all else fails, new clothes.


Go the extra mile. I wish I could say I've been doing this, but really I'm learning it from having other people do it. Example: A few nights ago, a friend offered me a bite of her turkey burger. I started to take a bite and then said "Oh, I don't like onions." So she pulled them off and passed the burger my way. Last night, she made Thai Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce. And brought me a separate container... without onions. This small gesture of friendship, movingly thoughtful, made my night. All I could do was wrap her up in a big hug. I want to be that person.   


As for reading in bed: stemless wine glasses for the win. Seriously, why didn't I realize this before now?

[p.s. I'm currently reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin & enjoying very much. It may have indirectly contributed to Lesson #3.]

Lessons, lately...

The past few weeks have been a learning experience. Last night I was in the car thinking about little lessons life has taught me lately. I started jotting them down (no, I wasn’t driving) and soon realized it might be fun to feature them on this little b-log from time to time. (No worries, they won't come to replace the guilt-frees, but this week they are.)


Lessons, lately…

If you're crying over a lost iPhone charger, it probably has nothing to do with a lost iPhone charger.

And sometimes you just have to cry. Long and hard. Cry until your pulsing head throbs and aches. Then you need to sleep. Sleep until you feel better. Crying doesn't fix anything, but it relieves some of the pressure. It releases it from wherever you've been holding it. You'll feel lighter, you'll feel free.

You can run, but everything else is running too.

An hour long conference call with your BFF is nothing like an hour long phone date. For some reason the other 4 people involved make things a lot more boring. But still make time for those phone dates too, and try not to worry about all the radiation your cell phone is probably giving you.

Have a favorite time of day, and enjoy it every day. Maybe it’s waking up at 3am and realizing you still have a few more hours. Maybe it’s the still quiet before the rest of the world wakes. For me, it’s the golden hour right before the sun sinks into the horizon. Everything takes on a rosy hue and the world seems a little softer, kinder. Even if I’m frantically rushing around at work, I look out the window and take a deep breath. Because deep down I know, in the midst of all the crazy, things are ok. The sun rises, the sun sets, the earth keeps spinning.