spring sprang

Mother nature has been so good to us lately. Warming up our souls with lots of sunshine and happiness.

Last night after dinner, Katie and I went for a walk and had wine time. Totting around our sweet neighborhood with her puppy, we were both cheesing like fools. Spring is here; our hearts are happy. We'll be poolside before we know it.

Here's to hoping it will stick around through the weekend. I spy lots of park time and a surplus of Vitamin D (fingers crossed!).

Happy Friday to you!

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orange you glad?

Hallelujah oh my stars yaay! Yesterday, after three months of detoxing, two of which have been completely sugar free, I have been officially granted permission to add fruit back into my diet. Still no grains or refined sugar, but I don't.even.care. I'm so stinking excited to eat fruit again. I can't think of a better way to kick-start the most fabulous month of March. 

A funny thing happened during the course of my sugar freeness. My taste buds have changed completely. Things like natural peanut butter (just nuts+salt) taste sweet. My Reginald's cashew butter tastes like absolute candy. Once an exclusive Riesling and White Zin drinker, now I opt for the slightly dryer Pinot.

I feel weirdly dramatic saying this, but I almost can't imagine what it'll taste like when I try ice cream and chocolate milk (my two obsessions pre-detox) again. Will I still like them? Will I be able to add sprinkles to my froyo? Or will it be too much?  (Seriously.)

Last night after leaving the doctor's office, I bee-lined for Whole Foods to stock up on fruit. Upon arriving, I got so overwhelmed with options that I walked out with only bananas. There were too many options! So much potential! Fight or flight at its finest.

I can't wait to jazz up my smoothie regimen, eat Greek yogurt with fruit, and, oh my gosh, have a banana with peanut butter for breakfast. Cloud nining to the max!

I hope your Thursday is equally as exciting as mine. Even if it's the little things, like tiny baby blueberries. Nom!

PS: Best Leap Day ever.

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on leaping

Would I be getting carried away if I were to call Leap Day a holiday?

Maybe not in the Christmas/birthday/Fourth of Julie sense, but a holiday in the same way that the longest day of the year is one. And Ground Hog's day. There is a little extra buzz in the air, invigorating me.

It’s like a whole extra day of life! I'm determined to pack in a few extra activities in order to take advantage of the bonus time. I kind of feel like we should have gotten work off to just embrace its goodness. It would be very European of us.

I'm not quite sure how I plan to celebrate this evening, but I'll be sure to report back on all of the things I squeeze in on this very rare Feb. 29.

And don't worry, my other fake-favorite-holiday is coming up next week. Oh half birthday!

the joneses

Last night at small group we skipped out on our lesson and talked instead. I left feeling really happy and with a very full heart. I often wonder what I did every week before I got to spend time with these little friends.

Sometimes it's really easy to get in the habit of looking around and comparing your life to someone else's (especially in your twenties). The haves and have-nots are drawn with a very thick Sharpie these days. Have gotten promotions. Haven't gotten a job. Have a ring. Haven't found a boyfriend. Have a robust social life. Haven't quite found their niche. And so forth. And sometimes it's easy to have a whole lot, but focus on that one little thing that you feel is missing.

But last night, as I sat among a group of most beautiful women, each of which has something different happening in life right now, I was reminded how important it is to be grateful for where we are each day. These days, I may not have it all; but I have them here with me in Atlanta. And that's pretty darn great.

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