10 friends every girl in her 20s needs

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1. The one who is your boyfriend: She's there to pick you up from the airport, throw your birthday party and try new restaurants with you. Essentially, she's your boyfriend when you're single or your significant other is unavailable. And she rocks. 

2. The long-distance bestie: Sometimes, the best perspective comes from a little farther away. She's there to FaceTime you to pick out your date outfit, then waits for the call when it's over. It's the relationship that continues to grow right alongside the distance. 

3. The one who never cancels: The reliable person you know will show up, on time, probably with a gift. She's kind of like your very own Martha Stewart.

4. The one who thinks you're always right. I think of it as the mom of friends. She's ready to take your side no matter what, even when you might be just a teensy bit wrong. We all need a cheerleader from time to time. 

5. The one who challenges you. The person that makes you think outside the box and asks the hard questions. She probably can't be the same person as #4.

6. The one you go to Target with: Sometimes, actual plans are hard to make. But errands with a pal? There's always time for that. You can both respect that life is busy and time together is well spent even when you're getting a manicure, grabbing Starbucks and running to Target.

7. The one who is up for anything: A last-minute concert on a Monday? Yep. A random yard sale 40 minutes away? Why not? An unplanned trip you probably can't afford? Sure thing. Everyone needs an adventurer in their life. 

8. The financial advisor: She speaks 401k and is there to remind you that you really shouldn't put it on your credit card. 

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9. The one who makes you slow down and connect: Just give her a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and she's primed for a heart-to-heart. She's the one who believes that the world is bigger than us and the most important thing we can invest in is one another. And she's totally right.

10. The one who is better than you: Or rather, who you think is better than you; she's the one you admire. She might be funnier or more patient or more philanthropic. She's the one who you strive to be not out of jealousy or competitiveness but simply because she makes the world a little brighter.

happy VA weekend


This past weekend, Chris and I headed up to Virginia to visit Court&Co. We realized it had been exactly one year since Oktoberfest, which was pretty much when we both admitted we liked each other. It felt like a happy little milestone trip to commemorate one year of I-like-you-more-than-friendship-but-not-yet-one-year-of-dating. Nahmean? 


The weekend was full of great festivities: apple picking, exploring some farmland, a family dinner and a double date, lots of good workouts and convos and a little wine here and there.





  
{A Della Selfie. A #Delfie, if you will}



It was lovely.

Thank you, Court and Ry, for an amazing fally weekend!

today is important.


I blogged a few weeks back about hurrying and the importance of waiting. But, in retrospect, I think I missed something. I still believe what I said - that we need to enjoy the present to the fullest. That there is beauty in the waiting. 

But something I missed is this: 

what if right now is it? 

Not in a negative way; but in the sense that sometimes I think we're so focused on (1) the next phase or (2) trying to be patient while we wait for the next phase, that we forget that right now is amazing.

If I am fully, painfully honest, I'll admit that sometimes, I find myself waiting for marriage. And for living closer to all of my family. And to build my own family. I am waiting, in a sense, to grow out of this singles phase of my 20s and begin the next chapter. 

My heart feels ready for it and I put a lot of energy into trying to enjoy now and wait patiently and quietly for what's next.

But am I looking at it wrong? Should I be less focused on being patient and more on fully exploring and loving right now? Should I be less worried about building for later and instead embrace the present for all it is?  Should I stop looking at it as "developing patience" and a "waiting phase" and instead look at it as life right now?

What if, right now, this was it? What if it was exactly as far as your romantic relationship, or lack thereof, living situation and job would advance? What if today was as far as those things would go? Would you live the same way?

I don't think I would. I think I would be more relaxed and less concerned about pressing forward. I would enjoy it more fully and wholly. 

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I understand there is a very fine line - a balance to figure out. It's important to be intentional and forward thinking. I get that and I very much believe in it. But I think sometimes we're so worried about what is next and next and next that we can't appreciate how much right now matters.

This phase of our 20s matters. 

Being single is important. Dating is important. Being married without kids is important. These phases develop and prepare us. 

The jobs we have right now are important - whether we like them or not, they are giving us personal capital for later in life. They are developing us. 

The things we are doing right now are not things we should do with our heads down, gritting our teeth and staying quiet. They shouldn't be phases we're just trying to get through so we can get to the finish line, the aisle, the delivery room, the promotion - whatever it is you're waiting for. No. Nothing is wasted.

This life we're living right now, today, will grow us and shape our futures in the best way possible, if we let it. 

Today is about learning to love where we are, valuing it for all its worth and letting it shape us into the adults we're becoming. Today is valuable and important. Today is beautiful. 

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hearty, fall soup {super easy recipe}

One of my favorite things to do on Sunday in the fall is make a huge pot of soup for the week. It reminds me of home, when my mom would make big batches of chili on Sunday while she watched the Colts game. It feels so right as the smell wafts through the air while I prepare for the week ahead.

This week I used the abundance of hearty vegetables I froze as leftover from my Fresh Harvest basket last week to try a new kind of soup made with veggies, yucca and coconut milk. It's filling, feels indulgent and is chock-full of nutrients. 

Hearty, Fall Soup Recipe (with coconut milk & yucca)

//Vegan
Yields: 8.5 quarts

Ingredients
32 oz. vegetable broth 
1 can coconut milk
1 stalk of yucca (cubed)
4 to 5 c. (or one bag) frozen broccoli
3 c. frozen corn
1 bag frozen spinach 
2 to 4 large tomatoes (diced)
1 squash (cubed)
1 avocado (for topping)
Seasoning of your choosing (I used: onion powder, Cayenne, salt and pepper)

To make
Once peeled, heat in microwave until soft enough to cut easily - should be about the consistency of a potato. 
While the yucca cooks, in the pot mix the broth and coconut milk on high heat.
Once your coconut milk has mixed in for the most part (no longer floating chunks on top), add all of your broccoli, corn and spinach - mixing them in one at a time. 
Dice squash, tomato and, once soft, yucca. Add to the pot. 
Add in seasonings to taste. The coconut milk will make it sweet, so if you want a savory element, I suggest adding onion powder, Cayenne, salt and pepper. Cumin might also be good, but I wasn't in the mood for it. 
Cover and cook on high heat until boiling. It took mine about 30 minutes with such a large batch.
Once boiling, move to medium heat and cook for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your time. 
If you have time, let it cook on low heat for a few hours to really get the flavoring.
Top with avocado and enjoy :)

Happy fall, y'all!