a piece of plastic

Last day of Blogtember: Share a photo of something old. Tell us about it and why it's special.

My grandpa made this necklace for my grandma. Back in the good ol' days he used to work for a plastics company. One day, he brought home a little plastic heart he had made for her. It was encased in gold and placed on a chain -- a necklace. His heart worn close to hers.

No idea if she wore it or not but the love behind the necklace is what continues to stand out to me. Those that love us show us how much they love us in many different ways, whether it's through sweet words, extravagant gifts or a piece of plastic.  Cherish them always.

a little piece of my mind from another seat

This will probably feel a little like a Dear Diary post. Who are we kidding though; it basically is one. Get ready for a little mind barf :). 

I've chosen to bunk up at the neighborhood Starbucks. I would typically choose a local coffee shop but I needed a longer walk to clear my head and I had a gift card (thank you Jessica!). Gift card won but mind ended up contunuining running at it's normal  a hundred a mile a minute speed so no win there. 

And if you haven't guessed it yet, I, of course, selected the prize winning pumpkin spice latte (and a cookie..dont judge). I remember the days when this beaut wasn't the online craze it now is. Hard to believe there was such a thing, huh? Pumpkins must feel like a million dollars. They are for sure the most popular item of all seasons. They're like the Madonna of food.  I adore them, as well. They're cute, come in all colors and shapes and make the most fab treats. I'd eat them any time of the year (although, I confess eating pumpkin pancakes in the heat of summer just feels wrong). 

Anyway, not here to blab about punkins. More so to dive into my broken heart (I warmed you this was a diary post). I'm broken hearted to leave our neighborhood. I love it. We can walk to restaurants, bars, coffee shops, our favorite park; the neighborhoods are adorable with lots of character; being greeted by the neighborhood cat that we've named Big Kitty (Mr. Tim is his actual name...); I love our neighbors; I can walk to Logan's (local garden shop) on a bad day and get a good dose of flowers; having picnics in the park across from our home; the list goes on. I am seriously fighting back tears thinking about what I love most about our neighborhood. The group of high schoolers across from me would really like that one. Crying Starbucks chick.  I'd wind up all over social media, I'm sure. 

As much as I love our neighborhood, I'm really excited for this next chapter. It will be different but there are so many things to love... We already have lots of friends in the neighborhood; having a garden in the ground (and not in our driveway); having a yard even if it is humble; pool, volleyball courts, gym, tennis courts (need I say more); having a garage to store stuff and build stuff; only two miles from downtown; having our first real home and making it ours; decorating; yard work (weird but I love it); meeting new people and developing relationships with them; new territory to explore; still walking distance to stuff (just different, more chainy stuff that I might not ever use....but still!). The list goes on. I really am super pumped about it and just go back and forth between excitment and sadness. In an hour I won't even be thinking about our current hood but dreaming about the new place. 

It's bittersweet. I love both so much but it's just hard having to say goodbye to one. Plus, I suppose its time to grow up and be a big girl, right? They say you get married, buy a house, have kids. I'm not typically one to follow standards but dayum, that seems to be what's happening.

 What's next? Kids? Mayyyybbeeee. 

What were your biggest hold ups about change, whether it be a new job or new house? 

Well that's what you get when you take me out of my typical seat. Happy Blogtember! 

about dinner...

I'm not one to follow a recipe. Usually I just create things from what I have laying around the house. Add my own little flair here and a touch of seasoning there.

Cilantro should never meet your typical bowl of chili. Ever.

First off, chili takes forever to make when you're using dried beans. So you're starving by the time it's ready. And if you burn it (like I did), well...you're screwed. Unless, you try to revive it like I did and add a crap ton of other stuff, including cilantro. Big mistake. Like horrible, bad, gross, what-were-you-thinking mistake.

Then you try to serve it to your boyfriend at the time. Second major mistake. He feels too bad to tell you he feels like he's licking sewage drainage and continues to eat it instead. And, you're too proud to admit that it sucks so you down a bowl too and freeze the remaining for a rainy day. Third AND fourth mistake.

Moral of the story: sometimes dinner just needs to be trashed. Let go of your pride, grab a few bucks and go get dinner elsewhere. And never add cilantro to burnt chili (it won't fix the situation).  Your husband/boyfriend will love you ten times more if you don't make him eat it.

So there's your mistake for today's Blogtember post. Enjoy some non-burnt, cilantroless chili!

or if this made you hungry for chili (like it weirdly enough did me), try this chili with cilantro by using an actual recipe

Domestic Charm - Vegetarian Chili

This life

Day 15 of the Blogtember Challenge on Story of My Life -- life lately....

Where to begin.

Life is nothing like it was 6 months ago. 

We've conquered two years of marriage (officially tomorrow).

We haven't been alone in our home for more than 24 hours in over a month. 

I left my job in August. 

We're starting a pizza food truck.

We're (tentatively) 30 days away from being homeowners. 

What?!?!? Six months ago I wouldn't have been able to even put together the most elaborate (yet still reasonable) scenario and it look like this. I feel like I'm jumping from one cliff before reaching the bottom of another. Luckily, I am a slight adrenaline junkie so the rush is only giving me a semi heart attack. On a serious note though, it's been amazing and I feel like we're making moves and big steps towards our future. I've yet to catch my breath but breathing is overrated. 

And for your daily pleasure...Check out my man lookin fly

Comfort

Blogtember prompt: react to this term - comfort

Comfort. I love being comfortable just as much as the next gal. Knowing everything is ok. Feeling safe. Content. Warm. Secure. 

But it's through our discomfort that we find rest in these things, purely enjoy them, stretch ourselves, are refined, grow. Sometimes sitting in your comfort zone keeps you stagnant. You turn around ten years down the road and see you're exactly where you were ten years prior. Or you say no because you're afraid of the unknown. You miss taking a risk to stay comfortable. It can keep us from experiencing the depths of what this life has to offer.  That's not the life I want to live. I want to be stretched and refined. I want to grow and experience. Desire to be fulfilled and find comfort by more than a cushioned job or nice house. To develop a tremendous amount of faith. 

Give me comfort. Yes. But I'll find true comfort in knowing that I'm in the hands of Jesus and that in the discomfort I find comfort in Him alone. 

From NY to HI

Day 12 of Blogtember is all photos. So here's a little glimpse of our summer  :)

second chance memory

Ok, don't judge. I know I missed yesterday and another day BUT we're home with no visitors for (no lie) 7 days out of the whole month. I think a few days missed is inevitable.

Anywho, Day 11 of Blogtember is simply a memory you'd love to relive.

I asked Mike this question a few weeks ago without realizing it was one of the prompts. I'm not one to imagine reliving moments because I love making new ones and I feel strongly that we learn and grow from our experiences, good or bad.

With that said, I'd relive our biggest fight as a married couple. I'd hold my tongue. I'd think about what I was going to say and how it would affect him. I'd hug him and tell him that even though this sucks right now, I love him. I'd stand on the vows I made to him just a few weeks prior. I'd be less selfish and more selfless. I'd put myself in his shoes. I'd choose him.

Maybe it was a pivotal moment in our relationship. A breaking point that showed me I needed to start being the wife I vowed I would be. Maybe it wasn't. I don't dwell on that fight (and luckily he doesn't either) but I do wish I could go back and undo any damage I did that day. Maybe start things out on a better foot. Luckily, I'm learning and growing every day.

Now for a memory I'd love to relive all over again and not change a thing.......Maui.
farm tours. snorkeling. hiking. swimming under waterfalls. cabanas and cocktails. sunsets.
Seriously one of the best vacations we've been on yet. More pics to come!

Me and all my goodness

Eek! It's Friday the 13th. Spoooooky. So to add to your spooks, todays Blogtember prompt is posting a selfie. I'm particularly good at these. For those that know me, a serious picture is a rare find and goes for millions on eBay. 

This is me. Nutty. Outdoorsy. Casual. 

I have a serious side and girly side. But all in all, this pic sums me up. It's what I look like in my natural environment. Now you know why Mike couldn't resist this piece of hotness and had to marry me. 

P.s. This is my view right now. 

Traveling first class (first timer) and hanging out in the American Airlines Admirals club on my way to San Diego. Feels like a piece of traveling Heaven. My neighbor on the first plane hooked me up and brought me into the 'club.' Free goodies galore. It's only 10:30 in Chicago.... Is it too early for a glass of wine? Neeeevahhhh! Bahtender, ill have anuthah! 

my love/hate relationship with social media

Day 8 Blogtember: Discuss ways that blogging or social media has changed you.

I have a love/hate relationship with social media. I love being able to stay connected with my family that is scattered all over the world. I love being able to meet new people and read about the joys and struggles they experience. I love having knowledge at my fingertips. I don't like that people a write me a FB message over calling me. I don't like being sucked in, two hours go by and I haven't even started my day. I don't like how ADD and scatterbrained it makes me. How much time it 'demands' to do it well.

But let's get real here. I haven't utilized blogging/social media to its fullest. I'm still taking baby steps... figuring it all out for me. I went to college for public relations, so you'd think I'd be an expert.  But no. When I was working, I sat at a computer 9-11 hours a day and the last thing I wanted to do was come home or start my day on social media/blogging. Needless to say, I never checked my email, let alone updated a FB status (although Instagram did own me). But now I'm finding joy in starting my day writing and getting to learn more from other bloggers. It's my creative outlet. Although I still find myself strapped for time and rarely make it a priority. I'm hoping this challenge will help me realize that it's good to sit and be still. A little idle time is OK. I don't always have to be running a hundred miles a minute. 

How it's changed me? I think it's teaching me to slow down, oddly enough. To take time for myself. To share more. Be open. And that imperfection is OK. Every blog post, FB status or picture I post isn't going to be published in next month's Nat Geo or get one million likes and solve all the world's problems. That's OK. I'm learning to let go and take steps forward, even if they are mediocre. I'm not going to be an expert on day one nor do I need to be. I can just be me... faults and all. And that's OK. You're not judging, right? Well, you might be.. but go fold some socks or something more important. It's all about the journey. I'm learning to enjoy it.

if only cash grew on trees....

For Day 7 of Blogtember we're sharing links to favorite online shops. I'm not a great online shopper. Heck, I'm not a great shopper period. Most of the time I'm buying dirt. Not sure you guys want to see bags of dirt though. Now that I have time to shop, I'll get better. I promise!

Clyde Oak is a local gardenish shop that I looooove (shocker). The below is my birthday wish list, especially that little bag. AHH!

And my go-to store... World Market. I could probably own everything in that store.

World Market Shopping by celeste-hurtig-arrigo featuring a glass vase