3.27.2015

The Best of Days.

One of the greatest blessings of our life in Vermont has been having the dearest of friends to share the big and little moments of each year. Jenna led the march back to Vermont five years ago, and I followed only 7 months later. We were, obviously, giddy to be neighbors again and to fall back into the routines of our shared youth, while also tackling adulthood side by side. The scary unknown was how well our boyfriends would get along, given that they had only met once before. We now joke that the dudes see even more of each other now than we do. It's literally been one of my biggest joys over the past few years. 

A few weeks ago the four of us got out for a ski day together. The last time all of us were on this lift together, B & I were freshly engaged, and Jenna and Al shared the news with us that they were having a baby (!!!). Life just keeps cruising by, with moments of joy as well as periods of stress and sadness. In every scene, I'm grateful for this crew by my side. xoxo


3.25.2015

3.16.2015

Of Monsters & Men.

A new song from one of my favorite bands of the last couple years! Yahoo.

Lately.


Sunday skiing with Dad.

Teo, Uncle B has some big boots for you to fill!

Spring Sunsets. (thanks, daylight savings!)

Sunday Sessions.

Two nights out in Burlington in one week! Lily Tomlin with Mom, Sister Act Musical with J. 
Both were fabulous.

Bluebird ski day at Killington. Felt like the west!

Gran's amaryllis blooms beautifully. 


3.13.2015

Mysteries, Yes by Mary Oliver

"Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous
to be understood.

How grass can be nourishing in the
mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever
in allegiance with gravity,
while we oursevles dream of rising.

How two hands touch and the bonds
will never be broken.
How people come, from delight or the
scars of damage,
to the comfort of a poem.

Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.

Let me keep company always with those who say
"Look!" and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads."


3.09.2015

Home Sweet Home.

Today we became homeowners! It still feels surreal, and incredibly exciting. We couldn't be happier with our little house and look forward to all the moments that will follow here. It was a long house hunt, and this was the fifth house we put an offer in on. Here's to the next chapter!


3.07.2015

"Hello, sun in my face.
Hello, you who make the morning
and spread it over the fields
and into the faces of the tulips
and the nodding morning glories,
and into the windows of, even, the
miserable and crotchety–

best preacher that ever was,
dear star, that just happens
to be where you are in the universe
to keep us from ever-darkness,
to ease us with warm touching,
to hold us in the great hands of light–
good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day
in happiness, in kindness."

--Mary Oliver, Why I Wake Early

3.06.2015

Murder in the City.

Brandi Carlile covering one of my favorite Avett Brothers songs? Yes Please. 

We remember them well.

The first week of March holds significant emotional history for me. I was blessed to have strong and lengthy relationships with each of my grandparents. We shared many sweet memories and moments. My grandparents (all 5 of them!) were each icons, and my grandmothers were dear, dear friends of mine. And in March, I toast to them. 
Five years ago on March 6, Grandmommy passed away.
One year ago on March 7, Gran passed away.
March 8 was Grandaddy's birthday.



I'm filled with love & gratitude for my family.

3.05.2015

Say Yes.

At the start of 2015, I set out two "intentions" for the year ahead. First, to do more yoga. My yoga practice has been on and off for the past 10 years or so. In 2014, I did not have a regular practice and I noticed a significant difference in my emotional and physical well being. So this year I want to bring it back into my life. So far, I'd say I've only been partly successful, but it's still helped dramatically.

My second intention: more couponing. Yep, you heard that right. I'm always a big fan of cost savings, through coupons, deal sites, etc. There's an inherent satisfaction to saving money, and it seems like with a little additional effort, we could do some real savings. So far, that's also been a moderate success this year.

A third "intention" has surfaced as the year as evolved, and it's making a dramatic difference in my life. This intention is to "say yes" to everything [or as much as possible]. It's so easy to come up with excuses for things. For opportunities, invitations, adventures, and ideas. To decline an invitation from a friend because the introvert in me wants to have quiet time on the couch, or to decide not to go to a concert because it means staying up late on a weeknight, or to decide not to go on a trip because it will cost too much. Within reason, I'm doing my best to accept the invitations as they come. Let's be clear, I've also had plenty of quiet couch time watching Scandal or reading a book so far this year. But if someone invites me for a night ski, a yoga class, or to meet up after work, I'm trying to be quick to say yes. Because the satisfaction that comes from that will likely greatly outweigh the satisfaction of staying home. And here's the thing. When you say yes to an invite, you are so much more likely to receive another one. A friend who is slow to commit or rare to offer an invite creates a friendship that is harder to maintain. Yes people breed yes people.

It's not just about saying yes to people, either. So far this year, I've said "yes" to a few awesome local concerts. I've said "yes" to the Newport Folk Festival when I saw tickets were selling out fast. I bit the bullet, bought tickets and booked us a bed & breakfast for it. It cost a fortune (see above, bring on the couponing), but the excitement I'm having over crossing a huge item off my life bucket list is worth it ten times over. I've said "yes" to a conference in Austin, to a friends trip in Portland, and to an invitation to stay in a yurt in Big Sur, California. In February I said yes to skiing almost every time the question (self-imposed or friend-imposed or Brett-imposed) arose, and the number of adventures I had on skis that month rivaled the number of days in the month. When the right house presented itself to us, we said a huge yes and put in an offer two days later.

Despite the regular obstacles and challenges that life holds, I feel more powerful, happy and enthusiastic this year than I have perhaps ever before. Am I tired from all this yes-ing? No. I feel invigorated and content. I can't wait to see what other opportunities and invitations present themselves this year for me to "say yes" to soon.

3.03.2015

Dawn Revisited by Rita Dove

Imagine you wake up
with a second chance: The blue jay
hawks his pretty wares
and the oak still stands, spreading
glorious shade. If you don't look back,

the future never happens.
How good to rise in sunlight,
in the prodigal smell of biscuits-
eggs and sausage on the grill. 
The whole sky is yours

to write on, blown open
to a blank page. Come on,
shake a leg! You'll never know
who's down there, frying those eggs,
if you don't get up and see. 

3.02.2015

Follow up on instagram fun!

As I mentioned recently, I've found a few ways to bring some instagram photos to life around the house. I thought I'd share a few photos of the final products. 

Fun little magnets for me & for gifts

The cover of T's book

the insides!

hi baby t!