Ready for the shortest and most random Thursday Three of all time? Okay great. Also, that photo has nothing to do with this post as it was from our hike a few weeks ago, so don’t read into it.
1. This week has been busy. I’m ready for life to be a little less busy as I don’t wear that term like a badge of honor. Lots of good types of busy things, but too busy nonetheless. If you feel too busy, let me encourage you to also try to be less busy, not more.
2. Always keep a blanket in your car. I got completely caught in the rain this week so I did the only logical thing, took of my shoes and ran through the puddles before jumping into my car. Having a random blanket to dry off with was a glorious thing.
3. There is so much beauty in this world. I’ve recently had to drive a lot for work and I can’t help but look in awe at the clouds and the trees and the great big patch of sunflowers off the side of the highway.
Regardless of any blogging challenge, the Thursday Three is ingrained in my brain. Speaking of things ingrained in the brain…according to my book on tape (aka audiobook) if you rhyme a statement, people seem to think there is more truth in it than a statement that means the very same thing but doesn’t rhyme. Crazy, eh?
1. Sometimes we all need to get away. Last weekend at the mountains was a great way to do that. We hiked a mountain, walked around town, ate some BBQ and stumbled across a small wine festival. All in all, a good time.
2. Sometimes we fall apart. Appearances aside, we all struggle with something. No one is perfect. No one has it all figured out. The more we compare ourselves to others, more more lies we convince ourselves of. So let’s just take that idyllic little trip to the mountains and add a bit of “life feeling like a lot.” There you have it. Reality.
3. Sometimes we need a night off. This week has been just as full as always, but sometimes we need a night in our ugly comfy clothes and the blogging is simply short and sweet.
This week, y’all…this week has been so much fun. It’s had its ups and downs like any week, but something about this week has had a fresh air about it. Maybe I’ve had too much pumpkin flavored everything, or I have just found some good people in the world. Either way, glad to have had such a great week.
1. Weddings are some of my favorite pastimes. This past weekend both the hubby and I were in a wedding on the beach, and it was AMAZING. The year we got married we somehow managed to attend something like 13 other weddings the same year and that got a little exhausting. But this year, we’ve only been to three and each have been so much fun that I wish I had another one in the books. Invite me to your wedding, people! No but really, this weekend we had the most wonderful time as bridesmaid and groomsman. I think we both just love the opportunity to really serve our friends at such a monumental time in their lives. Plus, we got to hang out with a few great people and always seem to make friends with the photographer (who was adorable, by the way…can’t wait to see her pictures from the day but until then, here’s a few others).
Photo by Molly StillmanPhoto by Marc Killian
2. The blog is growing. Like a total nerd I sat and watched google analytics realtime tracking on Monday night. Every couple of minutes I would yell out the current number of readers and their locations to the hubby while he worked on a song. I’m learning a lot in a short time but also feeling like I have SO much to learn and catch up on. That said, thank you so much for reading along with me so far as I try different things and tweak different sections of the blog. Any and all feedback is most appreciated!
3. It’s a good thing my voice is back because it’s been all over the microphone. This week the hubby decided we were doing an open mic night. While not new to him, it was a first for me. After months of working on songs together we went ahead and shared them with the world. While I didn’t really tell anyone we were doing it beforehand, please allow these poorly lit phone pictures to say it all. It was really great, and I ended up being more comfortable than I thought I would be. I’m ready for our next gig! In addition to my singing debut, I got to do some voiceovers this week for some freelance work which was really fun and completely new to me. Apparently they loved it! So, moral of the story…prepare to hear me on the radio some day, one way or another.
I’m so glad to have a blog because my little vocal chords are so tired. I lost my voice earlier in the week and just haven’t quite managed to recover yet. But, it’s been a great and full week. Here’s the tops.
1. Parental visits make you really assess your life. My mom and stepdad visited us over the weekend for the first time since we’ve moved out here. We had to really think about what we wanted to show them and navigated all through the Triangle so they could see our favorite spots around town. It reminded me yet again how glad we are to be here and just how much we’ve gotten to do and see. They met our friends, enjoyed our Saturday routine (sleep-in, bakery visit, wine tasting and walk through town) and got a glimpse of our lives. We also spent a little time moseying around like tourists and later watched the Iowa vs. Iowa State game from our favorite neighborhood restaurant. Go State!
A little rainy, but still a great day
2. The more involved you are in the community, the more you feel a part of the community. Whether it’s volunteering or going to an outdoor festival, do what you can to be in the community. We’re fortunate to live near downtown and there always seems to be a street festival, concert or something going on. But even if you live in a rural area or in the suburbs, there’s likely something going on in your neighborhood or a place that could use you volunteering. This weekend we walked to SPARKcon, a creative art/music/dance/drama/you-name-it festival and enjoyed seeing all the sidewalk chalk art, the handmade art (jewelry!) pieces and a pyrotechnic show.
People were invited to mark different places in Raleigh and I wrote about our “spot” where Raleigh was first considered as a place to live.
3. When given the chance to join in on new cultural experience, take it. Some good friends of ours are getting married this weekend, but had a Vietnamese wedding ceremony here before we all head to the beach. Both the hubby and I are actually in the wedding party and were delighted to experience a Vietnamese ceremony for the first time. The bride wore red, family introductions were made and gifts were exchanged. The hubby even got to carry in a tray as a part of his duties. I, on the other hand, had the duty of joining in pedicures and fondue with the girls later that night. We’re looking forward to celebrating with them some more this weekend!
This week was a bit like the weather–back and forth, up and down. A few storms, some sun and a fresh new season in the air. Lots going on as has been the case in the weeks prior, but I’m thankful to be right where I am in life.
1. Birthday celebrations are maybe more fun for close friends and family. Birthdays can make you think and ask big questions about your life, where it has been and where it is presumably going. Those around you simply get to celebrate you for the day while you sort through all of these deep thoughts. Everyone responds to that differently and the hubby is one of those people who sorta dreads his day. He feels like he is getting soold and losing his youth as each year passes, which is a bit ridiculous if you ask me. We celebrated his 27th birthday by going to a place called Cowfish where their specialty is hamburgers with sushi. Yep, that’s the thing. I made the mistake best decision ever of ordering his ice cream cake before we went to dinner. Following our incredibly filling and delicious meal, they brought out a ginormous and tasty cheesecake slice to the tune of employees singing along with a cowbell and a gong. So, then we had no choice but to come home and eat ice cream cake. If he didn’t enjoy his birthday, I sure did.
2. Making music is incredibly vulnerable. I mentioned having no words earlier this week, which resulted in an emotional yet beautiful song. We spent the better part of the weekend playing, discussing* and recording music. Discussing may be code for fighting about music. We both put all of our emotions and hopes and insecurities on the line when we play together. The hubby is significantly better at music and has dedicated so much time and energy into it. I usually lay my heart out whenever we write or sing together. It’s a delicate topic and we don’t seem to know just how best to work with one another. At the same time, we both realize that working together on music has created some of our best work.
3. Kids say the funniest things. Acted out by adults, those things are even funnier. We’ve spent a considerable amount of time this week giggling over these videos on youtube. Careful…it may take hours.
This particular video hit a little too close to home considering all of my many food allergies.
Oh, hello. It’s Thursday?! This week has gone SO fast! Three-day weekends are the best, but four-day work weeks are rough. Everything gets crammed into less time, and I just can’t quite keep up this week. It doesn’t help that some early mornings have been involved as every night for me is also a late night. When else is a girl to blog? You think these things just happen? Umm, no. But I love doing it, so it’s okay.
1. Our friends opened their coffee shop. (YEAH!!!) Speaking of things that don’t just happen…after months of hard work and planning, some of our good friends opened their very own coffee shop. There was a pre-party over the weekend and then the official first day on Labor Day. We had so much fun seeing all of their effort finally come to fruition and spent much of Monday just hanging out there as several other friends, neighbors and acquaintances trickled in and out to share in the opening day.
Look at that handsome guy. Could be a part-time model.
2. Old friends make great company. Over the weekend my friend Emily came for a visit. We’ve known each other since 6th grade softball and were good friends all through high school. She recently moved from Iowa to Georgia, meaning she is now only a few hours away. I loved having her stay with us as there’s something so natural about being with a friend you’ve known for so long. We didn’t really do anything too different from an ordinary Saturday, but it was nice to have another person to laugh with and someone to tell you if your outfit looks good or not. She saved me from buying a couple of doozies at the consignment store this weekend.
3. Too many conflicting thoughts make for a long day. I mentioned it, but the week has been crammed tight. With that comes different thoughts and feelings because with each new minute comes another thought or idea or emotion. A few days this week seemed so long (despite the short week) as there were so many different thoughts packed within them. One minute my life seems to be going in the right direction and the next it seems like I am completely behind on all of my to-dos and lose sight of who I am or what I am capable of. It’s amazing what a comment or success or failure can do to your perspective on something. At church right now we’re focusing on the big rocks vs. small rocks. Priorities vs. everything else. Before the series I thought I had a decent foundation on what was actually important. In the past two weeks alone it has become more clear that I am wearing myself too thin and not always focusing on the right things first. I’m trying to make adjustments, but in this time of scrambling to sort through job things while still wanting to be a great friend, hard worker, loving wife and everything else there is to be it’s hard to narrow it down. I don’t believe in glorifying busy, so I need to figure out a way to be less busy and that’s not easy.
This has been a quick and busy week. Let’s not waste any time and just cut to the chase, shall we?
1. Trying something old in a new way makes you better. Read that five times fast. This week the hubby and I decided it was high time to play some tennis. After a serious calf injury last summer, I had been a little tennis shy earlier this spring so we steered away from it. Monday night we hit the courts thinking we were just going to play a quick set. Turns out, a meetup group had reserved all of the courts. Our options were to go home or join them! Suddenly, we found ourselves playing doubles in a semi-competitive setting. All of my muscles were incredibly sore the next day, but the entire thing completely revived my love of tennis. I can’t wait to get back there for another meetup!
2. Going out of your comfort zone can extend your comfort zone. This week I had my first official presentation for work, which entailed a five minute speech and 20 minute presentation for a group of about 30 people. A small group, but I had to know what I was talking about and have a call to action at the end. Whew! One down…dozens to go! I’m glad though to be working on my presentation skills and becoming more comfortable in this setting.
3. Get some fresh air and find out what inspires you. Last week I felt overwhelmed with all I had to do. Between a busy week and a lot of details to take care of, I was wearing a little thin. While I haven’t completely caught up on sleep, this week has felt completely different. The weather has been awesome and almost every day this week I’ve spent a good amount of time outside to leave me feeling refreshed. Between working with people doing awesome projects and writing in new forms, I’ve found some real passion and excitement in my side projects which is very encouraging.
It’s here! It’s finally here. Lock the doors and close the blinds! Thursday, my night of the week. The night that I blog and supposedly accomplish things and relax and have time to watch a ridiculous TV show while the hubby’s at work. Cram it all in because no other night of the week is like this. Phew, and what a busy week it has been!
1. Every week I check my photos and my calendar to figure out what to say. The Thursday Three is not always easy to come up with. Sometimes my thoughts are jumbled and I can’t even put together a cohesive thought, let alone an entire blog. It’s like when your mom asked you how school was and the only answer you could come up with was “fine.” There are so many things that go into a day or a week that it can be difficult to summarize it all up. There was challenge and boredom, nervousness and excitement…the list could go on really. Sometimes it’s good to think of more specifics like, “When did you feel most accomplished or loved or brave?” or “When were you most challenged or upset or sad?” Maybe it sounds cheesy to think of things this way, but this can help sort out some thoughts from time to time and are good questions to ask.
2. Packing your week may make you more productive, but it comes at a cost. As I mentioned, this week was busy. I’m working now from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM but every night of the week have had one or two other meetings/get togethers/tasks attached to it. I’ve been scurrying around trying to make everything happen and pretend I can do it all. It’s just one more email. One little phone call. One more hour. As I write this sitting on my couch while wearing workout clothes (as if I made it to the gym tonight, HA!), I’m a bit exhausted and overwhelmed by all of those “one more” things. The hardest part has been to be present wherever I am, but also to try to realize what’s actually worth my time and energy. Reading a book over lunch or scrolling through email? Staying up late to cram more of the day in or getting some much needed rest? Networking event or time with a friend? Some of those decisions are hard, while some are easy. Because let me tell you, a loud close talker at a networking event will lose every time to telling life stories with a friend.
Leaving said unfulfilling networking event
3. There’s always a story to tell. Life can get monotonous quickly if you aren’t careful. I want to establish some sort of routine but no one wants to be totally stagnant. While I encourage you to create, as a writer I can’t help but to tell you to look for the stories in life. The little things that make it interesting. Story of the week for me? Loading up my cart with cans for a food drive at work only to be given a bag of cans from a guy also wanting to contribute. The receipt happened to come with it, name and number included. Creepy, clever, flattering and funny all rolled into one. What’s your story this week?
This week has been vastly different from all of my other weeks this summer. Whew. What a doozie. But in a good way. Let’s not waste any time and get right to it, shall we?
1. A room without windows is an exhausting thing. Daylight, people walking by, trees swaying in the wind…I need to see these things in a day. The photo above shows the direction of my house from downtown Raleigh through a great big window. The majority of my week however has been in a conference room with no windows but plenty of powerpoint presentations and fluorescent lights. Tell me, when are skylights going to be part of the building code? Hmm, I guess that doesn’t really help buildings with more than one floor. Bummer, nevermind I guess. So, WHY was I in a conference room all week? Well, that brings me to the next point…
2. Working brings a whole new energy to life. Albeit overwhelming or stressful at times, working at a job gives all of your other time a little more meaning or sense of urgency. I feel like I’ve been a bit more efficient with my time, but admittedly still have a lot left to do at the end of the day. What work, you ask? (Did I just bury the lead?) I am now working for the next few months as a Community Engagement Fellow for United Way. It is essentially a temporary position, but will hopefully be a good one as I’ll be presenting to different companies all over the Triangle. It came about rather suddenly after the rejection of the last few positions, but I am grateful for the opportunity. This week has been nonstop training with a few other fellows, and I have learned more than my little brain can handle. I’m definitely ready for the weekend but eager to see what is to come.
3. I thought finishing school was just something they did in the movies. As a part of the training we learned all about United Way, several pointers on public speaking, astounding information about the needs right here in our community and some proper business etiquette. Along with it, today we got a lesson according to the standards set by Miss Manners because apparently people really do go to finishing school and know what to do with eight forks and four knives. The bread plate should go on the left and the drink is on the right. Start from the outside and work in with your utensils. Ladies should always be seated first and the host should start the eating so everyone else can follow suit. When eating soup, the spoon should be scooped outwards. If you leave the table but intend to return, place the napkin on the top of your seat. If you are finished eating, place the napkin on the left side of your plate and your utensils side-by-side yet diagonally on the right side of your plate. For rolls, place the amount of butter you need on your plate and apply it on only the morsel you plan to eat before taking a bite. Y’all, I did not go to finishing school. I promise I have table manners, but some of this was a little too much for me.
So, I missed Thursday by a few dozen hours. Whoops, sorry. But figured I would go ahead and blog the week anyway as it’s been full and good and a little unexpected.
1. Some days there are no words for everything you are feeling. There can be joy and sorrow, happiness and hesitation, disappointment and relief, defeat and hope all at the same time. This week has had a few things like that. They sit mostly on the “good” side but are still taking a while to get our minds wrapped around them all.
2. Nothing says “summer” like a road trip. In the past week we took two semi-impromptu trips and both included a good amount of rain. We saw friends by the beach and family near the mountains, each for a couple days. While brief, it was much needed and quite enjoyed. Trips like these are a huge part of what makes me excited and inspired. The hubby and I recently had a discussion however where he made note of the distinction between a “trip” and a “vacation” (to me they are usually the same thing. To him, a vacation includes almost no agenda and clearing of your head–preferably in a cabin in the woods. I see a vacation as going somewhere and trying new things and gaining new experiences. Honestly, when it comes down to it, I couldn’t care less what you call it, but I’m glad to understand what the difference is for him. Knowing things like this as a couple helps to better communicate expectations and goals when we take time off to go somewhere.
While in Asheville, we checked out Moog, which is where all sorts of electronic instruments are made
3. A season of change is upon us. I wrote a little last week about beginning again and I keep being reminded every day how much we are about to enter into something new even without knowing what it is. We have some friends moving this direction, new opportunities, new challenges and new direction in what we want in life. When life gets stuck in a stagnant stage I seem to grow impatient quickly, yet when there’s time for constant growth and change I can get overwhelmed or panic. One day at a time though, so I’ll be sure to keep you posted once more is known.
