I like the end of the year. It's full of perspective from the last 365 days, but it's also full of hope for the next 365 days. You are always surprised by what you did and never quite sure of what will happen next. It's scary and beautiful at the same time.

So, this Top 5 "Friday" is dedicated to 2011 - thanks for the memories! And also to 2012 - I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve...

1. Are you making resolutions this year? Wonder how you're going to keep them? This post from A Beautiful Mess might be just what you need to read.

2. A wish for the New Year. I like that, too!

3. Have you ever picked a word/phrase for the year? It's a cool idea. I think this year I'll choose "Be Here Now" or "Simplify". But magic is really good word that worked for Elise Blaha this year.

4. I adore Olivia. I adore her travels. I adore her thoughtfulness and ability to find comfort all over the world even by herself. Her 2011 blog post is certainly inspiring.

5. I'm making this Hoppin' John recipe for good luck in 2012! If that's not your jam, then maybe these White Chocolate Peppermint Milkshakes will bring good luck to you!

6. I just love the idea of a Best of List.

And for good measure,

7. Hey lady - maybe your 2011 sent you spinning? It's ok. Maybe you're not crazy - read this post and be bold in 2012!

And when I get some more time, I'll tell you what I did in 2011 - I had a list, remember?! And I'll tell you about all of the awesome new things I discovered. And maybe I'll make a wish for 2012 while I am it.

And, if you have a chance, tell me all about yours! I'd love to hear it.

xo.

IT'S THE LAST DAY OF TWENTY ELEVEN!

Oh goodness gracious. It was an up & down year for me. How about you? Was this year all you hoped? Did you learn something new? Meet someone new? Go somewhere new?

It's not over quite yet... Do something fun today. Something relaxing. Something spontaneous. Anything to catapult you into your next 365 days...

I'm ending my year with some yoga. What you do is up to you, but... Enjoy! And I can't wait to see you in 2012!

And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back. 
So shake him off.

let's make a wish. i like that.

There are so many holidays happening this time of year, so whatever your holiday of choice might be, may it be merry & bright and spent with those you hold dear because there is no greater gift than the love of family & friends. I forget that sometimes, but I hope you never do.

Credits: I forgot. Kudos to someone else though!

Yeah, it's not Friday... Again. It's Sunday. It's CHRISTMAS! Ah! It doesn't really feel like Christmas for some reason. I'm excited for family, friends, poker, portable bar, presents and birthday celebrations - my little sister will be twelve! Wowza. I feel old.

Anyway, it was a rough week. I learned a lot. Mostly about myself. Sometimes life throws us curve balls. Sometimes you cry. Sometimes you get scared. Sometimes you run away. But other times you smile, stand up to the world and put yourself out there. You get to pick.

Many thanks to all of you who were thrown in the middle of my midweek crisis. Really. Thank you.

And while I was on my last seven days of self discovery, this is what I found on the interwebs. Enjoy!

1. This is a(nother) post from Donald Miller, but it's actually about a TED Talks. What's it about? The Power of Vulnerability. Whoa, right? It's sort of scary, but mostly true.

2. I like when people post about their home's interior design. This bedroom especially caught my eye. I hope I have a cute little home when I'm a newlywed.

3. Nutella is good for you. Clearly these cookies must be good for me. I see more baking in my future.

4. “My darling girl, when are you going to realize that being normal is not necessarily a virtue? It rather denotes a lack of courage." - Alice Hoffman (via the wild & wily ways)

5. The end of the year/the beginning of a new one can be overwhelming. Here is a post about 5 simple things you can do to take care of yourself. Do these, then worry about being a perfectionist later.

6. IT'S A CRAZY TIME OF YEAR. "Press pause. Stop to enjoy. Breathe. Make yourself a peppermint mocha."

And if you're looking back on the last year, then check out Reverb 11. You can Google it and find others. It's definitely a more organic experience than Reverb 10 was last year, but it seems like everyone is enjoying it all the same.

Listening to: DMB - Christmas Song, Needtobreathe - More Time, Jay Clifford - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, Radical Face - Welcome Home Son, Rise Against - Swing Life Away, Florence + The Machine - Only If For The Night. Oh and other things - join Spotify and check out my playlists!

Oh, Father up above, 

why in all this hatred do You fill me up with 

love, love, love?

On the train from Jackson to Chicago,

Licking all the wounds that never healed.

Turn around. Turn around.

Now you’re at the end of the line.

Don’t look down. Don’t look down.

You’re standing on the shoulders,

Standing on the shoulders of giants.

You know those days where you feel incredibly beat up at the end? Like nothing will ever go the way you want it to? And thinking makes your head hurt? That's my day. I just keep listening to this song over and over. Is this dramatic? Maybe. But I'm a lady and I can cry if I want to.

Providence has yet to be revealed.

This is the thing: When you hit 28 or 30, everything begins to divide. You can see very clearly two kinds of people. On one side, people who have used their 20s to learn and grow, to find … themselves and their dreams, people who know what works and what doesn’t, who have pushed through to become real live adults. Then there’s the other kind, who are hanging onto college, or high school even, with all their might. They’ve stayed in jobs they hate, because they’re too scared to get another one. They’ve stayed with men or women who are good but not great, because they don’t want to be lonely. … they mean to develop intimate friendships, they mean to stop drinking like life is one big frat party. But they don’t do those things, so they live in an extended adolescence, no closer to adulthood than when they graduated.

Don’t be like that. Don’t get stuck. Move, travel, take a class, take a risk. There is a season for wildness and a season for settledness, and this is neither. This season is about becoming. Don’t lose yourself at happy hour, but don’t lose yourself on the corporate ladder either. Stop every once in a while and go out to coffee or climb in bed with your journal.

Ask yourself some good questions like: “Am I proud of the life I’m living? What have I tried this month? … Do the people I’m spending time with give me life, or make me feel small? Is there any brokenness in my life that’s keeping me from moving forward?”

Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love, and with people who believe … life is a grand adventure. Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path. - 11 Things to Know at 25(ish)

[ via then that happened ]

GOOD MORNING! IT'S TOP 5 FRIDAY OVER HERE!

I woke up over an hour ago. That's real life.

So, grab some coffee and read on party people. I did this just for you!

1. Are you busy? Of course you are. Duh. Here are 12 HAPPINESS Habits for Busy People! Read it, Come on, Get Happy!

2. So, we've established you're busy. Do you want to Take It Easy? Of course you do. Duh. Here's a podcast all about it! I listen to Joy & Tracy at the gym - makes me forget I'm on the stair stepper... Sort of.

3. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Enter the Starbucks Venti Iced Coffee. Clearly.

4. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR JAZZFEST LINE UP. For reals.

5. Could I lose a few? Probably. I'm sure I will along my Own Fitness Journey. This is a very honest look at how being healthy goes down. You've got to want it, folks.

And ONE LAST TOPIC! Gift Guides! Love 'em. I do. Seriously.

What do I think are some fail safe gifts for people if they don't have a wish list conveniently located along the right side of their blog like me?

The Happiness Project Calendar - it's positive and it lasts all year long!

Starbucks Gift Card/Locally Roasted Coffee - hello. Caffeine. What's not to love?

BAKED GOODS - make them yourself. Order one. It doesn't matter. Duh. Everyone loves a cookie.

Booze - but only if they drink. And I'm not talking PBR - while refreshing at times, not a good gift. I'm talking a bottle of Hendrick's or Firefly. Maybe a bottle of wine that costs more than $3 or some fancy holiday ale. It's meant to be good. Not cheap.

Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Candles - on sale 2 for $20 with wonderful new smells like Black Pepper Bergamot and Mahogany Teakwood. And they have a COUPON out right now. Get it.

Moroccan Oil - smells lovely and does lovely things to hair. It's not cheap. It's not expensive.

(Good) Nail Polish/Pedicure - every girl loves glitter. Every girl loves color on her toes. Think OPI, Essie, BUTTER. When in doubt, certificate it to your local salon.

A plant - they're eco friendly and friend friendly. A little green thumbed responsibility never hurt anyone and it will enhance the air they breathe! You're so thoughtful!

QUALITY TIME - it's not a cop out gift. It's you! And who doesn't want that for Christmas? Go grab a cup of coffee. See a movie. Bake cookies. Just enjoy being with the other person. NBD. Time is hard to come by!

What do you think belongs on a HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE?

persistence: n. firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.


good example:

Man: May I take a moment of your time?
Me: Uh. Sure.
Man: I noticed you standing inside and you're very cute and I was wondering if you'd like to spend some time together?
Me: (lying) Oh, well, I don't think my boyfriend would like that.
Man: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know.
Me: It's ok, but thanks for the offer.
Man: May I point out something else I noticed?
Me: Sure.
Man: You didn't say no.
Me: Oh... Well, no.
Man: Ok. I just had to try.

bad example:

Me: I have quite a few Top 5 Friday posts under my belt.

Roomie: Go, Erin!

Me: Maybe they'll make me famous and I'll become a professional blogger.

Roomie: You should!

Me: (whiny voice) But it's hard work. Like harder work than normal work. Meh.

Roomie: (laughs) Then don't do it!



Note: Persistence is NOT always the answer to getting what you want. 

Monday.

It's supposed to be awful, yes?

Mine was quite the opposite.

Good. Challenging. Thought provoking.

I had coffee with an old friend, got my brows done, made an appointment to have my oil change and AC looked at, made another appointment to get my hair did, had my tires rotated, made a Costco trip, went to my first free counseling session, had a good talk with the roomie, tried warm flow yoga for the very first time, did some christmas shopping, ate some candy cane joe joe's and now I'm sitting in an apartment filled with wonderful smells - like Mahogany Teakwood. If you could turn a sophisticated man into a candle, this is the candle he would be.

Is that weird? Maybe.

Tomorrow, I'm going to cross more things off my to-do list, go to the gym, maybe wrap some gifts and hopefully bake these yummy looking blueberry chai oat bakes.

That's really all I have to say I guess.

Let's get in the car and drive westward until we can't anymore. I'll bring the music. You bring the coffee.

Here I am again - one day late on the Top 5 Friday post. I should have named this post project something different like "Best Week Ever" or something equally as vague. Hindsight.

Ok, so Best Week Ever? Not so much. I hope yours was better than mine. Both my work and personal lives have been roller coasters over the last week and I've come to several conclusions about things and myself and other people. The difficult part is not caring and just accepting which I cannot do because that's just not who I am. This is going to be a long ride, folks.

Last night was a mostly pretty good wind down. I got to stay at home (yeah, on a Friday) and clean/decorate our little apartment. Did you know there is an instant Netflix called Fireplace for Your Home? Yeah. It's pretty fantastic.

My ramblings aside, it turns out the interwebs had a lot to say this past week, so I will share what struck my fancy.

1. I love list posts - clearly. I also love mugs & Anthropologie.. And I l.o.v.e this Naked palette. It was the best $50 I ever spent. And this journal is the jam. I want. So check out this post - it's a little like being in my head.

2. I had a friend who wrote a journal to her future husband. At the time, I thought it was sort of silly. Now, I think it's sort of perfect. I find them randomly posted by a brunette bombshell in Manhattan.

3. Bloggers are real people, too. And "Not every day has to be glitter & rainbows because in real actual life shit happens." That's so true. It's not always conveyed here, but it's so very true.

4. I discovered Home Fries from Joy the Baker & her podcast. From Home Fries, I discovered Tracy at Shutterbean and subsequently High Straightenence. THIS IS REAL LIFE. That's all.

5. A very merry Indie Christmas to you & yours. 

PS. I am currently OBSESSED with the Rise Against song Swing Life Away. Yes, I know I'm behind in the times. I can't hear you mocking me. Listen to the song here. And see the song as art here.

Remember when I told you this lady is one of my favorite bloggers?

I love her more now.

And, hey. Hey, you! Want to be my new best friend?

Help me win free caffeine. Really. Do it. Right here. I'll love you forever - ever.

"Oh, I can't stop drinking the coffee. If I stop drinking the coffee, I stop doing the standing and the walking and the words putting-into-sentence doing."

hi. this is my christmas corner. 

and what she said. 'tis the season.

via we r who we r

TGIF! TGIF! I have Saturday & Sunday off! TGIF! Ok, I missed the whole TGIF thing because it's no longer Friday. I'm such a slacker when it comes to Top 5 Friday on Friday. I hope you don't mind. But yesterday was a good, long day followed by a good, long night.

And why I'm awake... I can't answer that. But I have a plan to combat my fatigue! A trip to the gym followed by a date with Starbucks. Not a bad Saturday morning, right?

Alright. Alright. I'll stop my yammering and let you enjoy all of these lovely links.

1. Do you watch Parks & Rec? If no, then treat yo' self to an episode! And if that's not your thing, then treat yourself to something else. I say so. This lovely blog also had a post this week about being above average. I encourage you to read it, then live it.

2. Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

3. When Andrea made the switch from old url to new, I was nervous, but she has continued to deliver - I love her blog. And this post about long drives, well, I want it to be my life. There's nothing I love more than traveling with friends. And there's no trip I want to make more than to travel along the coast of California. Where do I sign up?

4. Do you love music? Do you love lyrics? Do you love Tumblr? You'll love this.

5. There are a few places that have captivated me. New York is one of them. Why? Oh, I'm not sure. The magic of a never sleeping city is intoxicating. The beauty of 843 acres of green in the middle of a cement block is unexpected and breathtaking. Watch this time lapse video to see what I mean.

6. I just discovered Bob Harper's Bikini Body Workout on Shape's website. I love Bob Harper. I would follow him to the end of my health & wellness world. I don't even know why. I trust him in all of his bearded and ripped abs glory. Also, I think he could make me look like Jillian Michaels. Nbd.

7. My friend Mike posted this song on my FB wall the other day. I like it so much that I've decided to share it with all of you. Enjoy.


Now tell me what you think!


                                                 


And EDIT: I just read this post by/about Ryan Gosling. Really? Broke up a fight & started a protest? Where have I been? I like this. Maybe you will, too.

To impact hunger in our communities, we're gonna be camped out (rain or shine) for 58 straight hours at 2 different Walmart locations, while broadcasting LIVE right here at LoveGave.com! During the broadcast we'll be chatting with you, hosting interviews, and giving updates on our progress along the way. Our overall goal is to provide 400 meals that will meet the needs of hungry children and their families in our communities. $100 will provide enough food to sustain a child + their family over an entire Christmas break.

This is a festive photo I borrowed from rockstar diaries : 

one of the cutest blogs/babies/families on the interwebs. Um hi, look at that little girl's face! Read those funny little posts from Kingsley dog! Listen to the love of a new momma! See the dedication of a darling daddy! [Trust me, I'm not usually into "baby blogs" - this is not one of those!]

Oh hi.

I have two days off in a row. Nice.

I have a laundry list of things to do - incl. laundry. Heh. I hate laundry. When I meet a man who doesn't mind doing laundry (and does it well) then I'll know I'm good. I digress.

List of things to do... including DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS! Oh yes. I am doing it. I'm all about it. I'm going to drink eggnog and bake cookies too WHILE watching all of the Chrismakkuh episodes from The OC. Plus, I'll probably listen to DMB's Christmas Song over and over and over. and over. I'm stupid excited.

Do you ladies & gentlemen have any decorating traditions/ideas? What cookies should I bake? And do you prefer your nog with bourbon or espresso?

And three words : Dirty Chai Nog.

I'm over the moon about this. Really. These two days are gonna be magic.

I hope everyone had a wonderful thanksgiving. My holiday was full of deep fried turkey, pie, poker, mimosas and family. I am so very blessed. What was your favorite part of the day? Tell me. Tell me. Tell me.

And now, while American consumers are out jonesin' for a sale, I will be... well, assisting them. Normally I dread this day with my whole heart, but right now I'm really looking forward to it. I want to see what it's like outside of a mall. I want to know what it looks like as controlled chaos. Then I want to go to the gym, paint my toes and maybe go for drinks with the "kids" in the family. TGIF? Sure. I'll bite.

And now for Top 5(ish) [Black] Friday!


1. I like traditions. They're especially good when they involve The Happiness Project. I still haven't finished reading it. Maybe January will be my month.

2. My cousin and his wife, Brittany, are pretty adorable. He did a good job picking her. She writes this cute little blog about their cute little family. I dig it.

3. Because Thanksgiving is the best holiday. The end.

4. So, I made pie for Thanksgiving. I don't know if I've ever made a pie other than pumpkin or chocolate walnut (at McCutchen House). And then boom! I made this Salted Caramel Cheesecake Pie with a gingersnap crust. From scratch. True story.

5. Lovely Olivia is back in Charleston and taking names! Of really awesome places to visit & dine. I think it's time for a Butcher & Bee adventure. 

6. I'm sorry - is this even possible? A pretty fridge... What a concept. I'll work on that.

7. First, I like the name of this blog - lyrics from The Weepies! Second, she's right - you should be watching this show. It's hilarious and on Hulu. So, Happy Hanksgiving - enjoy!


There it is. I hope you enjoyed what I enjoyed on the interwebs over the past seven days. I'm thankful for all of you reading - whether I know you or not - and I hope you're eating leftovers and sitting in your pajamas. That's what I would be doing.

xo.

You know what's hard about life?

Everything.

Oh yeah. That's right. And don't try to tell me I'm wrong. I'm "nearly thirty" (according to a co-worker) and I've been around long enough to know.

But just because life is hard doesn't mean you can't enjoy it or fix it with a giant cup of coffee or freshly cut flowers. (That's how I fix things... Or with cookies. Cookies are always a big winner.)

Do you want to know why life is hard right now?

I'm exhausted. That's lame, right? My body is achey from flip flops and lack of sleep and I've gone out more in the last weekend than I have in the last month. Why?

I made new friends who are leaving. That's really why life is hard. Because sometimes you meet really fantastic people at really inopportune times, ie. right before they move to Germany for three years. Wo its der Apfelstrudel? (That's all the German I know.)

But then I realize (because I'm a glass half full sort of gal) that it's really fun to make new friends and hang out with old friends and watch Twilight and listen to music and eat fig burgers and play Jenga and dominoes. Probably more fun than sleeping. And it's better to know awesome people who have to leave you than to have never known them at all. (It's like that whole loving and losing thing.)

So, here's to all of my new friends... I'm going to have a giant cup of coffee now.

This little mosaic to the left is the background on my computer. I like it. A lot. It's from Curious Girl who used always do Mosaic Monday, but she stopped some time ago for some reason...

Which brings me to my next point... I skipped Top 5 Friday.

Whack. I know. (Yeah, that's right I said whack. Maybe I'll bring that saying back.)

I had a really busy weekend. I mean, I've been on a four day "vacation" and I have been going a mile a minute, yo. Of course, I've enjoyed it all and I'm super stoked for Thanksgiving and about moving into the Holiday Season at work and my new position.

AND I'm going to see the new Twilight movie tonight with my roomie. Nerd Alert. I'm not ashamed. I'll even go ahead and let you know that I'm on Team Edward. Don't hate.

But, yeah, I had two links I was going to share from last week, so I will share them now because I wouldn't want them to get left behind.

1. Fab Brunette is a new discovery for me. (Like I needed one more blog to read...) But her post about Happy Discoveries made me... well, happy! And I like that in life. Glass half full, friends.

2. And here we have another excerpt from the book I'm supposed to be reading, Searching for God Knows What. I love Donald Miller. I love how honest he is about life and spirituality. Plus, any post about patience and trust is always good to read.

Tell me about your weekend. Was it awesome? Did you make a new friend? Did you drink some good coffee? Did you eat something delicious? Most importantly, did you get to sleep in? Really. I want to know.

Marcel the Shell w. Shoes On (1 & 2)

Guess why I smile a lot? Uh. Cause it's worth it.

Be better than you were yesterday.

Oh hey! TGIF. Am I right?

Yeah. I am. But only because I have the day off tomorrow! Hip hip hooray!

I am going to seriously sleep in. No alarm clock. I've been exhausted all week [life is keeping me on my toes], so I'm using this as my last attempt to get all the sleep I need.

Then I'll put gas in my car, go to the Farmer's Market, have some Starbucks, clean my room, run some errands, read some of my Steve book, watch some Felicity, paint my nails. It's gonna be good. Good.


Do you have any big weekend plans?


Anyway, enough about Saturday - it's TOP 5 FRIDAY! Here are some of my favorites from the past week:

1. Sometimes my life to-do list is outrageous. Why do we all put so much pressure on ourselves to be perfect in everything that we do? And then why do we give ourselves so much to do perfectly? This is an excellent post about Narrowing Priorities. Let's keep it simple.

2. I just discovered Today's Letters yesterday. (That sounds confusing.) It's my new favorite blog. And I loved them more when they posted about a bird flash mob. Ok, that's not really what it was, but watch it. It's pretty fantastic.

3. This is a really excellent post about Unconditional vs. Conditional Love. I mean, when was the last time you stopped and thought about that? I don't think we think about love enough. Why? Because "love is the difficult realization that something other than oneself is real." [Note: I like this whole blog a lot - this is the post that first caught my attention.]

4. I'm already drinking my double tall nonfat eggnog lattes. What's that mean? CHRISTMASTIME IS HERE. That means time for crazy & holiday to-do lists. And I'm not just talking gift buying and travel plans... I'm talking wearing scarves, holiday movie watching, nog drinking, decorating. Let's get on top of it, peeps.

5. This chick quit sugar. QUIT SUGAR. I thought about it for five seconds. I'm not that strong.

Hey, look! I kept it at five! Crazy.

So, tell me what you think. And listen to this version of Tupelo Honey. And find me on Pinterest & pin with me!

I'm relocatable.

I mean, I love it here, but I would move.

Where?

(Someone asked me that yesterday...)

New Orleans

(Southern) California

(Southern) Virginia

That's what I said.

It's weird when someone actually asks you a usually theoretical question.

Who I'm listening to right now on Spotify:

The Civil Wars
Band of Horses
Florence & The Machine
Angus & Julia Stone
Bon Iver
Fink
Eastmountainsouth
Alexi Murdoch
Hem
Mumford & Sons
Fleet Foxes
Horse Feathers

Welcome to the most delayed Top 5 Friday post. It's short, but sweet and mostly music.

Hey hey. My my. Rock and roll can never die.

1. One of the most interesting finds this week for me was The Goat Rodeo Sessions. Give it a listen if you like Bach or Bluegrass.

2. Coldplay recently performed at Apple's company wide celebration of Steve Jobs' life. It was quite moving. Then their new cd came out. And now I'm addicted to this song.

3. While I was doing some training at work this week, I discovered this little gem. Two awesome things in one. Yoga + DMB.

4. You keep telling me what you know, but baby, what do you believe? Have you heard Divided by Friday? Do yourself the favor and listen. Now. Right here. This song hit me at mile 9 of my half.

5. This is something I've always wanted to me good at - I'm just not. Yet. A girl can dream about Art Journaling, right?

6. I like these songs. And when people post playlists. That's all.

7. I think this ad is pretty. And appealing. And whoever came up with it is smart.

8. And the number one good reason to be sick this holiday season can be found at Shutterbean. Check it.

I just realized I forgot Top 5 Friday! Why? Because I was busying myself with my first (perhaps only) half marathon in Savannah!

So two promises. There will be best of links from last week coming soon & a recap of what it's like to do a 1/2 marathon if you're me.

Get excited.

Top 5 Friday. Part Deux.

[Is this cheating? Maybe. But this is my blog & I make the rules, so I say it's ok.]


I so enjoy learning about Olivia's travels through her blog Everyday Musings. I appreciate her honesty about life and the breathtaking photos she takes. And when I saw this post about Coffee & Canals nothing seemed more magical & perfect. 

We're all constantly trying to improve ourselves, yes? Well, here are 25 Ways to Be a Better Person... Today. (Practically) instant gratification. Let'd do it to it.

Sometimes blogs don't need words. Wit + Delight. A Visual Journal.

Note: This photo is the from Loemae's Instagram. It was taken from the top of the parking garage I park in for work everyday. The view from the top ain't so bad.

Alright. I'm really done this time.

I hope everyone had a lovely week. Mine was... Busy. Weeks are always busy, yes? Pretty much. I hope that you got everything crossed off your to-do list at work, so you can enjoy some personal time with friends & family or by yourself (if you're like me and need to have that space sometimes...).

But what I'm really here to say is TOP 5 FRIDAY (on Saturday morning) has arrived! Hooray! I know you've all been waiting, so without further ado, please, get your read on -


1. If practicality and anthropologie had an interwebs baby, then it would be this. The Violet online magazine. "We believe that you don't need a huge bank account or fancy things to live a full, rich life. With a little bit of creativity and a lot of heart, you can have your cake and eat it too!" 

2. This is an excerpt from the book I'm supposed to be reading right now. I realized Christian conversion worked more like falling in love than understanding a series of concepts or ideas. - Searching for God Knows What. That sounds lovely, no?

3. It's hard being healthy - not dieting, but being actually healthy. The kind of healthy where you make a life change that you can stick to & sustains you. Don't give up! Make some rules relevant to you and keep up the good fight. We can do it.

4. Sometimes sad takes time. And that's okay.

5. Bennetton + iPad = Cute + Practical. This is how we do.

6. Seriously? No way. Oil breaks up oil? You want me to put that on my face? For reals? I'm not sure how I feel about all this - if you have insight, then please share! I'm interested!

7. I LOVE this blog. I love how crafty she is and how she captures her life in seasons in these adorable tiny little books. Watch this minibooks video. It will start getting you ready for some happy holidays!


Tell me what you think. Tell me what you love. Tell me what you hate.

xo.

This showed up on my Google Reader from the parachute diaries, but when I went to create a link to it, the post was gone. That's one of those weird Google glitches/fortunate accidents. Glitch because what if you write something & publish it to the world and then change your mind? Chances are you're screwed because Google saved it. Fortunate because I really like this picture/quote and I'm glad I still get to share it with you/remind myself. 

Anywho. Top 5 Friday is coming! I'm just done with it yet. I had some other things/people to attend to and sometimes life is more important than my blog. Yeah, I said it. xoxo.

Sometimes I wish work wasn't necessary.

Don't get me wrong, I l.o.v.e my job, but not as much as hanging out with friends in the morning & drinking coffee, then hanging out with friends & eating burgers for lunch followed by some errands & a mid afternoon episode of Felicity before getting my gym on so I can be home in time to make dinner with another friend for four hours of chats, drinks & eats. (Hi, caramelized brussels sprouts - you are so good. And really, is it brussels sprouts or is it just brussel sprouts? Oh, wait, spell check says brussels. Problem solved. And did you know the plural of cul-de-sac is culs-de-sac? Now you do.)

Anyway.

That is the good life. That is my life.

Now, I will read some of my new book - Steve Jobs biography - and listen to the new Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto (hey, anyone now how to say that word?) - while listening to the fountain outside because I have all of the windows open in my apartment.

I will do those dishes tomorrow. Promises.

And the laundry.

Yep.

I'm not entirely motivated for Top 5 Friday - I've got four minutes and I'm ready for bed after too many hours at work, not enough sleep and three beers.

So...
Eat These.
Watch This.
Hear This.
Remember This.

Also, an excerpt from my evening:

Friend: Were you flirting with him?
Me: Um... No.
Friend: But you weren't not flirting with him?
Me: Well, I mean, I didn't have my game turned on, but...
Friend: I get it. The car was in drive, but you weren't pushing the gas pedal.

Oh goodness. Friends.

And then there is this :

and these.

Bahahaha.

Me: [to new iPhone owner] You can ask her anything. Watch. [to Siri] "Siri, how much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?"

Siri: Don't you have something better to do with your time?

Me: [to Siri] Nope.

Siri: Perhaps not.

Me: [to new iPhone owner] She's a little sassy.

The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before.

- Albert Einstein

photo credit: unknown 

Today's Top 5 Friday is brought to you by Columbia, SC. Ok, so not by, but from. That's where I am.

I'm currently trying to do this while watching an episode of Felicity. It's proving almost impossible to do since we just got into the middle of Felicity and Ben - the relationshop I want to happen. Forget Noel. Team Ben! If he'd stop being so scared.

Anyway. Focus. It's Friday and I definitely have more than five. Here we go.

[Edit. Top 5 Friday is now Top 10 Saturday because I took a break to drive to Pigeon Forge, TN which is the Vegas of the South. I'm just saying.]

1. The picture in my post came from Curious Girl. I like it because it looks like fall... Thus it made my list this week.

2. I've been keeping up with Julian Bialowas for a while through his 365 pictures. Well, he reached 365 this week and here it is. I'll miss the beautiful photos and the inspiring quotes, but "a new journey will soon present itself."

3. I l.o.v.e granola. I l.o.v.e pumpkin. If I ever get the time & motivations, I'm pretty sure I'd l.o.v.e this Pumpkin Granola recipe I found on Free People. PS. Have you ever read the Free People blog? It's pretty fantastic. Full of recipes, quotes, music and fashion. Check it.

4. Love. Love. Love. Love. This is what Amy loves. What do you love?

5. About this... First, I enjoy From India. With Love. A lot. Also, I love food. I love Thanksgiving. I love cute boys who travel. I love videos about cute boys who travel and eat food. So, here have you it - all of that rolled into one.

6.  I think I'm out of shape. Or I'm out of healthy eating habits. So, I want to eat more veggies. I very much enjoy brussel sprouts. No lie. And this is a very yummy way to eat them. Hooray!

7. I found this blog post to be a wonderful reminder. Bind my wandering heart to thee. Also, Mumford & Sons are fantastic. Don't just listen to this - go get their album, too!

8. Shut.The.Front.Door. Go bake.

9. I read this post & said "that's me" a thousand times. I'm so happy I found Elise Blaha's blog and I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only person who is trying a new skincare routine and is not ready for their 1/2 marathon. And when I was in a relationship with someone who was away I wrote to him daily, so I'm not the only crazy. Planning Embracing. Celebrating. Drinking. Enjoying. Lamenting. AND I will also be returning to healthy eating after this mountain weekend. I've already had three cinnamon rolls.

10. Apple has done it again. Siri(ously). A voice activated personal assistant on your new iPhone 4S. Watch this video. It will change your life. That's just how we do.

I hope I didn't just blow your mind. It was just a good week in the blogosphere.

xo.

When I'm in Charleston, sometimes I miss my Columbia life so much that I ache.

When I'm in Columbia, sometimes I miss my Charleston life so much that I ache.

Logic says I am doomed to forever be achey. I think that's unfortunate.

I wonder if it's just that I always want what I can't have, so I am never content. Maybe I don't understand contentment. Maybe it's just human nature.

Places. Things. Feelings. It's bigger than those things. Life, I mean. It's big.

So what does this mean?

I'm not sure. I'll let you know when I find out.

This is real life.

And I'm real tired.

I'm just saying.

Oh hey. TGIF. I mean Friday is almost over, but that's ok. I am currently eating a bowl of Chocolate Frosted Mini Wheats and listening to this week's Joy the Baker podcast. The perfect end to a long day. Long week. Really. Since the last Top Five Friday, I have been involved in new hire training, had a visitor, worked extra hours, lost some good people from the world, cried at work, ate lunch in a park, etc, and so on and so forth.

I haven't baked. I haven't cooked. I haven't been to the gym much. I have had a lot of coffee and written a lot and read a lot. All for work. I haven't really been home too much. I'm not complaining. I just have a lot to do before I go out of town for FIVE DAYS! Ah!

But ANYWAY, I'm here for a reason. What reason? Top Five Friday! And.... go!

1. I love Feist. The Reminder was the anthem for Summer 2007. It always takes me back. I had no idea that Feist had a new album coming out, but thanks to this Black Eiffel blog post I am now in the know! And thanks to Spotify, I've been able to listen to the entire album! Hooray!

2. Every month, Sarah Von has a special post on her blog Yes & Yes. What is it? It's called The Network of Nice and it is so awesome. It's like take a penny, leave a penny, but with people. It's a nice little way to pay it forward. The concept is fantastic and it makes me feel better about the world.

3. Once in awhile, there is a person whose death rocks the world. On October 5 2011, it was Steve Jobs. At first, I couldn't believe it, but there it was on apple.com so that means it's truth. And, of all the five bazillion blogs I read, there were only a few people to mention it.  One blog post dedicated to him was from SRSLYLIZ and another was from The Goodie Life. I very much appreciated their kind words.

4. Do you like food? Do you like cocktails? Do you like photos? You need to check out Spoon Fork Bacon. End of story.

5. So, a weird fact about me. I enjoy "What's in your bag?" type series. Really. It helps satisfy this curiousity I have about people. Petite Elefant is on Week 66 of it's What's in your purse? series. And if that's not enough for you, then I really recommend the Persona Diptych series on Flickr. L.O.V.E.

6. And lastly, I just want to know... Coffee or Tea?


Alright. I have to go pack my lunch and read an outline and get to bed and make a list of things to do before I leave. All in thirty minutes. Heh. What's that funny little gadget necklace Hermoine had that term she was taking extra classes at Hogwarts? I want that. Yeah. I just went there.


Love.

Here's to another crazy one. 

A fine chef, teacher & friend.

Chef Jules Pernell. 

Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.


Apple. 
Think Different.


Steve Jobs. 

This is the place I call home.

So, as you all know, I recently moved into a new apartment. Also, as most of you know, I'm an awesome procrastinator, so it has taken me almost two months to finally get everything "unpacked". I still have some stuff I could sort through, but it's all organized.

Anyway... I found lots of journals, photos, knick knacks along the way... lots of memories. I read some of my entries and I was so moved that I cried at some of them. I was/am so blessed by the friends I made in college. They helped support me and guide my focus. That sense of community and faith seems unreal.

I know I'll never have that tight knit living arrangement with my friends again. But I want my sense of wonder back. How do I do that?

And to all of you this post refers to... just... Thank you. It's not enough, but I truly mean it.

I took myself out to a movie tonight. And it was good - not just the movie, but the being an adult and being by myself and doing what I wanted and, at the same time, doing what I needed. After catching up for a bit with a beloved, long time friend, I saw 50/50 and ate the pumpkin pie poptarts I smuggled into the theater. The chat session and the film provided me with some excellent perspective. It's good to step back and take a look every so often.

There are days I drop words of comfort on myself like falling leaves and remember that it is enough to be taken care of by myself. 

- Brian Andreas (via Meg Fee)

It's for real TGIF for me. That's right. I have the day off. I guess that's not really what Friday is about for most people though. However, I am now aware that I will be out of the store for 5 days. Three are days off and two of them I'll be working offsite. Weird. But without further ado, here it is... Top 5 Friday! Take 2.



1. I very much enjoy being single and being in charge of my own life and making my own decisions, but sometimes I wish I already had my happily ever after - my someone to share responsibilities & coffee with. (There's an episode of Gilmore Girls about this, btw.) Anyway, so when I read this post by Meg Fee, I understood & appreciated it. And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one.

2. Every so often I discover a new blog that I l.o.v.e. This week I fell in love at Une Deux Senses - a delightful little blog that has posts such as "Manicure Monday". Um, what's not to love? Food, Fashion, Music & Other Little Lovelies. Also, I stumbled upon an entry called Magic Coffee - I'm so in. It appears another Cali blog has stolen my heart. [Please note, I didn't enjoy the magic coffee. Not one bit. But I still enjoy this blog.]

3. Last week, I told you about Caffeinate Me. Well, that blog led to me to Just a Titch. I have to say, I really love Amy. I love how insightful she is about life. I love how dedicated she has become to her health. I love how she always asks the reader a question. I love how regularly she posts. Mostly I love how she posts the things I happen to be pondering in life or reminds me of the things I should be pondering. This particular post is about what she wants less/more of in her life. What do you want less and more of?

4. It's not even right how much I love the Joy the Baker Podcast. No seriously. I check my iTunes for updates almost daily (well, on Wed, Thurs and Fri) to see if Joy (the Baker) & Tracy (Shutterbean) have posted a new one. This is real life. It's ladies talking about road trips and food and boys and guilty pleasures and nail polish. They just hosted the awesome HomefriesU - Back to School. And, if I can break the bank when Spring Break rolls around, I'm all over. I can't wait.

5. The picture posted today is one of the best things I read this week. I love this quote. I love Amy Poehler in Parks & Recreation. I just love Parks & Recreation. I love the Apartment 513 blog. I love it all.

6. I need a large piece of art. I was thinking about doing a lyrical canvas. I stumbled upon this idea/picture on Pinterest and fell head over heels with the idea. Now all I need is the patience, supplies and the right song. Decisions.

7. I'm completely convinced that the way you make friends in life is by baking. Duh. Nothing says, "I'm trustworthy and good to be around" like a nice batch of cookies - I'm partial to making sea salted chocolate chip cookies. However, I think the best way to win over even your worst enemies is Pumpkin Nutella Bread. I know, shut the front door! Let's all bake.


PS. Anyone swear by Juice Beauty? I'm jonesing to try this Organics to Clear Skin kit...

Oh alright, so I chose more than 5 links. It's my blog and I'll link excessively if I want to. So there.

Hugs.

sometimes i just want to get into my car & drive off with my ipod stopping at every coffee shop along the way to nowhere.

Oh heyyyy, Monday.

I had a really awesome day off yesterday, but it looks like we've got a very busy week ahead of us. Work. Dinners. Shopping. Music. Friends. Let's see if we can get it all in, ok? Alright.

I finished the last episode from the Joy the Baker podcast today. I want to make candy cane infused vodka for Christmas. Whoa. Also, I want to make Pumpkin Pie Poptarts with Maple Glaze. Yum. Yum. Yum.

Look! I've got a mint plant that's thriving quite nicely. How about that? Thanks, Mom. I'm glad someone in this family has a green thumb.

There was an all new Gossip Girl on tonight. I was seriously jonesing for it. That's slightly embarrassing, but one hundred percent true.

And here is Monday's quote from Free People... "The free soul is rare, but you know it when you see it - basically because you feel good, very good, when you are near or with them." - Charles Bukowski

xo.

TGIF, to you.

I don't particularly care that it's Friday - makes no difference to me. My work week goes Saturday - Friday and my days off were Monday & Tuesday. So, last Sunday was my Friday. Today is Wednesday in Erinland. Sort of. I have Sunday and Friday off this week, so we'll revisit this topic next Friday when it applies to me. I hope you enjoy your weekend, though!

I'm supposed to be at the gym right now, but I have noticed on a lot of blogs that people will post their favorite links from the week on Friday. I want to do that, too. So I am. And it's more important to me than cardio right now. Here is the inaugural post for my "Top 5 Friday"... Get excited.

(Also, the number 5 is ambiguous - it could be more or it could be less, but today it's inaugural and it's five, hence the name.)

1. Fall is upon us! And I've decided there is no better way to celebrate Fall mornings that with Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal. That's right. I said Pumpkin Pie for breakfast. I quartered the recipe here for a single serving. I also substituted walnuts & brown sugar for pecans & maple syrup. (I hate pecans & I don't have any maple syrup.) Delish.

2. Here, in the world, in my life, a lot of us have been faced with unfortunate and/or difficult decisions/lessons. Sometimes the hardest thing & the right thing are the same. Well, that really sucks, but I found a bit of inspiration over here at Elise Blaha's text art project. I think it speaks volumes. Also, I love her Etsy Shop. I'll take a Goodness Book, please & thank you.

3. You know how people grow up? It's weird, right? Well, this guy (I wouldn't say we were friends - but we were in Yearbook together) I went to middle/high school with, Jeff, he grew up into a personal trainer and is actually quite motivating. He is in the middle of a cleanse and started a blog called Be Happy Live Fit. I recommend checking it out for some tips & tricks!

4. I don't know Andrea, but I know her blog Caffeinate Me and I l.o.v.e it. Really. The other day she posted her personal manifesto and it is spot on. Give it a read. Be a better person. Maybe write your own. Maybe just get addicted to her blog like I am. You choose.

5. And, finally, I have a new Netflix obsession. What? Felicity. Why? This blog post over at Champagne Bubbles spurred me into streaming action. I was on Team Noel for 3 or 4 episodes until I found out about Hannah. I mean, hello! And hey, this show premiered in 1998! They had curly fros, oversized sweaters, cassettes and pay phones still. I'm in for the long haul.

Also, I'm still listening to The Civil Wars. Please suggest something else to me.

xo.

via eliseblaha

I'm on day two of my days off. It's nice to every so often have two off in a row. You know, like a normal person. Not that I'm at all a normal person. I'm told daily that I'm not. How about that?

It hasn't stopped anyone from loving me, yet.

Oh hey. Spotify. Who loves it as much as me? I need an iPhone for streaming. Holy. I'll never have to buy cds again. I'm listening to The Civil Wars.

So, I've been in sort of a weird place... with the moving and the job and the roommate and the new animal and the not going to the gym and then the going to the gym. I felt like I was in shambles for a bit and like my life was not my own. I'm still getting comfortable again. Be patient with me.

I watched Something Borrowed last night. Um. She stole her best friend's fiancé, but also her best friend was not a very good best friend. Of course, two wrongs don't make a right, so I was torn from thinking "this is awful" to thinking "aw, they've loved each other for so long." Love. It's a funny thing. I was in love once. And I love a lot of people. That's all I have to say about that.

I've been in the kitchen a lot recently - chai snickerdoodles, peanut butter cookie dough balls (vegan) and black bean mango quinoa. Soon, I want to make these pumpkin chocolate chip brownies. Hm. One of these things is not like the other. I think I have a baking problem. Also, why is it so effing hard to get a hold of some pumpkin. Seriously. It was a no at TJs and Whole Foods. Also, Publix only had ginormous cans. I was doing reps with it in the aisles.

The first two cookies were for work. For our most awesome meeting. It renewed my spirit.

And, finally, I'm thinking about spending more time here - on this blog. I don't expect for my blog to blow up and for me to retire on a blogger's life (I've read about those - they are hardcore and super busy!) but I enjoy what I do here. And I hope that you enjoy reading it. So, there's that.

It's time to get out of bed now. Hugs.

Florence + The Machine - Shake it Out by Artur Cunha

it's always darkest before the dawn. shake it off. and it's hard to dance with a devil on your back, so shake him off, oh woah.

things to do.

[i have a tendency to be more productive if i make a list. and if that list is public, then i have even more drive to complete it... generally.]

pilates
coffee w. rosie
call courtney
bake pumpkin bread
target [basket, shampoo, ivory]
organize pantry
hang mirror back up
empty laundry basket
clean bathroom
empty dishwasher
vacuum bedroom
zumba class
make lunch for the week
read about osx lion
buy wallflowers for mom

ps. i'm listening to a lot of country music right now.

why?

aaaand go!

oh hi, did you want to know a little bit about me in a vague, but cute sort of way? oh okay. let's play that abc game that we all say is lame, but secretly love filling out & posting around our various social media sites. oh right. now it's out there. enjoy!


A. Age: 26
B. Bed size: Full
C. Chore that you hate: Laundry. I'd rather clean my toilet. Meh.
D. Dogs: I'm not really suited to care for animals, so my cocker spaniel, Lollipop, lives at my parent's house. She's cute.
E. Essential start to your day: Coffee.
F. Favorite color: Various shades of Green. And grey (but not gray).
G. Gold or Silver: Silver, in general. Occasionally, I'll rock yellow gold, but it's rare.
H. Height: 5'3"
 I. Instruments you play: I used to play a mean tambourine. No lie. I can also Magic GarageBand.
J. Job title: I'm a Specialist. For real.
K. Kids: I like them (when they're well behaved) but I REALLY like giving them back to their parents.
L. Live: Charleston, SC
M. Mother’s name: Kathleen (Sometimes I call her Kate)
N. Nicknames: Peep. Double E. E Sqaured. E Ellis. NYC. Erin Gail.
O. Overnight hospital stays: When I had mono in third grade, I was hospitalized for a week. Oy to the vey.
P. Pet peeves: Alliteration. I'm kidding... Lying. People who do the same thing over & over expecting a different result. Driving slow in the left lane. When my Time Machine tells me I haven't backed up in "x" amount of days due to sheer laziness on my part. The use of the word "good" when it should be "well". But mostly lying in all of it's forms.
Q. Quote from a movie: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people don't shoot their husbands. They just don't."
R. Right or left handed: Righty.
S. Siblings: One of each. Both younger. 24 & 11.
U. Underwear: What about it? I have a lot. Some are fancy. Some are not. Sometimes I wear it. Sometimes I don't. Yeah, I said it.
V. Vegetable you hate: Carrots if they're cooked. Yuck. And anything from a can is gross.
W. What makes you run late: The interwebs/my lack of self control.
X. X-Rays you’ve had: Um. My teeth?
Y. Yummy food that you make: I made yummy homemade pizza tonight. But my coworker's really appreciate my skills when it comes to Salted Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Z. Zoo animal: Giraffe. I like 'em. Their tongues are black & their necks are long.


and you?