A bit of a break...

Instead of adding "write blog post" to my daily to do lists, and then not following through, I've decided to remove this little item from my schedule for the time being. Due to various personal extenuating  circumstances that have popped up recently, making it difficult to even eat, sleep, work, and workout daily, I've decided that I really need to prioritize my time in the utmost sense. I have to remove the stress that any "extra" items are causing, stress that was growing due to the fact that there are only 24 hrs in a day and I just do not have any extra minutes to devote to something that I want to really want to take the time to devote to. 

So instead, while my life spins a bit crazy over the next few weeks, I'm taking a little break, refusing to upload posts that are done half-heartedly, refusing to write and post just for the sake of posting.

As I prioritize my days and even hours over the next few weeks, I hope to refocus myself as well, so that come September, I can do what I've often stated I want to do for a long time: dedicate time and energy into writing and growing my creativity, giving this little outlet of mine an actual chance for survival. 

I left Alt Summit last month feeling energized, inspired and motivated and I plan on taking that energy and putting it into full effect come the fall. I have ideas swimming around in my head that I'm eager to put into real action, collaborations I want to play around with, and am making a promise to myself to create the time and prioritize my blogging just as I do other aspects of my life, a promise I'm excited about. I'm hoping that my little hiatus will help with this, build momentum, and also give me the time to go about my ideas more thoroughly planned out, go about this whole project of mine in the right way from this fresh start.

So until then, have a wonderful summer ~

photo via my Instagram 

July 1

"I had that familiar conviction 

that life was beginning over again 

with the summer."

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Happy Summer Weekend!

May your weekend be filled with 

lots of sunshine, laughter, 

cool drinks and even cooler ACs

photo via Tumblr 

Scary Storms No More

When I was younger, I would crouch and hide when thunderstorms hit. 

Hands clasped over my ears,

scared of the flashes of lights and loud noises, 

always eager for them to pass on by.

And yet, as a major storm approached last night, 

I found myself on my back porch, 

soaking up not only the rain droplets that blew in my direction,

but also the rush of adrenalin that accompanied 

the excitement of the incoming lightening and thunder. 

As Tom and I watched in awe 

as the sky lit up and the branches danced, 

I felt like a kid again,

a braver kid for sure,

but absolutely reveling in the simple thrills of Mother Nature.

And as the storm passed, 

my adult self sat back and appreciated, welcoming,

the after effects of a terrific storm,

the distinct smell of summer rain 

and the fresh, crisp breeze that carried it

so beautifully through my windows. 

 photo via Pinterest

Long Weekend Luxuries

This Memorial Day weekend came at the perfect time. 

After several busy weeks for both myself and the boyfriend, 

we entered into this long weekend with no plans. 

And it has been fantastic.

With the summer ahead already packed with weddings, showers, 

get togethers, and traveling, I've started to feel a bit worried, 

concerned that there was too much on the calendar. 

While I hope to embrace the crazy busy summer for what it is, 

full of wonderful, joyous celebrations, 

I know that staying organized and calm will help me, personally, 

to enjoy it all so much more, despite its schedule, 

and so I've looked forward to this upcoming weekend, 

to kick off the summer season, 

hanging on to the fact that our days were free from plans.

Having that extra day makes long weekends insanely more awesome. 

It allows one to really achieve, so much more fully, the core goal of the elusive weekend: 

mixing productivity with relaxation and pleasure. 

And so this lovely long weekend, I've done just that. 

I cleaned our home, and tidied up our living space. 

We stocked up on necessities for the upcoming week's breakfasts and lunches

 as we grocery shopped, carting home various items to turn into creative dinners. 

I went to the gym,

making up for the lack of time and self discipline 

that reigned over the past couple weeks. 

I have piles of clean laundry, fresh sheets on the bed, 

and I'm slowly but surely making a dent in my towering stack of magazines 

that I can't help but collect. 

Friday night we set out a smorgasbord of taco fixings, 

filling tortillas with shrimp, beans, rice and avocado, 

indulging in one of my favorite types of dinners. 

What use to consist of parties, pizza, cocktails and 

bedtimes that went into the early hours of the next day, 

now ended with a showing of The Great Gatsby and bed by midnight. 

The movie didn't disappoint and neither did the hours of uninterrupted solid sleep. 

Saturday night we cheered on the Bruins with good friends and good food, 

before returning home shortly after 9PM, 

to enjoy the lazy pleasures of hbo's comedians. 

These little long weekend luxuries came together to create a weekend

 that I so badly needed and craved. 

While I didn't cross off everything on my never-ending to do list, 

I feel refreshed and reorganized, 

eager to keep this positive momentum going, 

ready to not only tackle the week ahead, 

but excited for the beautifully busy summer that lies before us.

And so as we wrapped up this weekend with a little hike by the coast

and a bbq with the boyfriend's family, 

I cheers to not only our country's Memorial Day 

but also to the summer ahead.

photo via my iPhone

Dreaming of Summer

While spring is poking its head around the corner ever so slightly, 

winter is still standing firm 

for at least a few more weeks here in the Northeast.

And so I've found my mind drifting off with thoughts of summer, 

of packing up boots and hats and gloves, 

and basking in the sun, 

of beach trips and picnics, 

of seashells and s'mores. 

I'm hungry for a holiday of sorts, 

a change of seasons, 

a celebration of warmth, 

and already looking forward

to embracing the upcoming months 

as much as possible 

and all the little joys that come along.

 

all photos via Tumblr & Pinterest