pure joy

One of my favorite feelings in the world is getting up really early and doing a hard workout, and following it with a feast of a breakfast. The feeling of joy it brings me is so real.

Recently, Stacie was telling my friends and me that she felt like she was missing service opportunities - that she really wanted to volunteer more, but she was having a hard time finding ways to do it.

This led to a conversation about how to be better people, at which point Melissa explained that she didn't think it was always just about volunteerism. She said sometimes it is about finding things that bring you joy, and pursuing them. Because if we're more joyful people, we're more inclined to bring joy to others. She referenced this blog post and encouraged us all to think about what little things bring us joy. And, to counter, what steals your joy? Even if the good things sometimes feel indulgent, by taking care of ourselves, we take care of one another better, too.

So, here is my list. It's more like an ever-growing wiki.

little things that make me happy...
Complimenting people, especially strangers
The anticipation I feel leading up to family vacation
Long walks with great trans-Am phone convos
Yoga
Iced coffee in the afternoon
J.Crew Rewards
Rearranging rooms
Being friendly to strangers
Being outside in any capacity, especially around bodies of water
Breakfast before work with friends
Sunday night bedtime: clean sheets + clean house + clean Whitney
When everything is organized
Being around families
New water bottles + cool stickers to put on them
Being around people who know me very deeply
Getting up early
Giving people presents
Reading a good, but mindless book
Getting my car washed and detailed
Crossing off entire to do lists
Whole foods (both the place and foods that are not processed)
Music that makes me want to sing and/or snap my fingers - even at my desk
Watching people with their siblings
Being at a wedding or anywhere with dancing, with my sisters and mom, and watching us all dance the exact same way (Biber-snap)
Laughing
Being with the people I love, especially my family

and, what steals my joy...
Wasting time on Facebook, especially while playing the comparison game
Staying up late when I don't need to
Sleeping in unnecessarily late
Gossiping
Being too cold

What brings you joy? I want to know!

::weekend snaps::

Coffee breaking with Dukie Friday afternoon. 
Farm Burger with Duke and Ryan. Just missing one Sam Harrison. 


We see you cow. And we won't eat you. #atleastnottoday

A bridal shower at Sun in My Belly for sweet Liz.
It also must be said that a wonderful, wonderful friend, Christina, announced she was pregnant at her cookout this weekend. I only wish I had the photo capturing our joy on this one. Congratulations Xtina!

A Friday Kind of Love

Foreverrrr ago (read: June 8), Allie sent me A Friday Kind of Love. And I kind of loved it.

Because, my friends, A Friday Kind of Love epitomizes my life. I am constantly amped, certain it's going to be the best of the best, always. I've been working pretty hard on having more reasonable expectations of things, telling myself: it will be a fun weekend. It will be nice weather. It will be a good trip. As opposed to the very best weekend with the most perfect weather on the dreamiest of all vacations.

And I think I have gotten a leeetle better, and it has helped me to approach things with a glass half full, as opposed to cup runneth over, attitude. Which is a very important skill to learn.

But sometimes, when it's Friday, I just can't help myself. Because weekends really are the best. It's like a Friday Kind of Love says, even a bad Friday is better than most Tuesdays. Nahmean?

Happy, happy Frideeeee!

Ummm PS I have said the word "Friday" on my blog 78 times. Does that constitute an addiction? I think it does. Eeep!

images via pinterest (anyone know the original?) and the neotraditionalist

hurts so good

In an effort to accomplish my goal of saving money this year, I put a small travel ban on myself. This spring, I had a come-to-Jesus moment, during which time I realized I wasn't saving, because all of my money was being spent on plane tickets. So, I decided, no more airline travel until October (*minus one wedding in July).

From there, the stages of grief were pretty evident.

First, denial: It's not my fault. It's haaard when so many people you love live in one million places.

Then a little bit of pain: I guess I just will never see my family or friends from home. And I will lose my Delta Medallion status. Sigh.

And then some anger and bargaining: Fine. Everyone will just have to come see me.

But soon enough, I experienced my upward turn, and have now settled firmly in the stage of acceptance and hope.

Because I am actually finalllly seeing the fruit of my labor with slightly less financial stress. And also my friends and family have been really wonderful about visiting me (thank you!!). And it's really fun to be in Atlanta on the weekends. Last fall and spring, I traveled so much. And it was very, very great. But this summer I am remembering how blissful it is to be in the city - the weekends seem longer, I feel less stress surrounding getting things done on weeknights, since, while traveling, the weekends are shot and you have to squeeze in packing/unpacking, cleaning, etc. after work. It's been a very eye-opening experience, I tell you!

So, as we approach another weekend, I'm excited to see what this city will bring. Here's to hoping for some ATL goodness! See you in a cool 36 hours, weekend!

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