Friday’s Pin of the Week: Perspective
May 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
It wasn’t the worst of weeks. It wasn’t the best of weeks. It was somewhere in between – throwing out some tough moments that were balanced with moments that brought a lot of joy.
On Tuesday, I was particularly grateful when a coworker, telling a story of her own stress about moving, kids, etc., made the comment that was something along the lines of…”but these are all just first world problems.” Meaning, she wasn’t trying to figure out how to get clean water to her kids or wondering where they would sleep at night. Moving to a new home, having access to wonderful doctors for a kid battling ear problems, being busy with a great job — stressful yes, but what lucky reasons to be stressed when you take a step back.
Life, in the “first world,” isn’t always easy, but it is a pretty spectacular place to be if you can get out of your own way just long enough to be grateful. Truly and honestly grateful.
Source: Uploaded by user via Alexis on Pinterest
New Blog Crush and Thursday Ramblings
May 10, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I read a lot of blogs but it takes some sort of unknown “pull” for me really connect to a blog, so much so that it becomes part of my nightly reading routine. Therefore, when I do stumble across one that is unfamiliar but truly great, I get extra excited (in that sort of dorky blogger kind of way).
I am betting that you’re going to feel the same about Eat Sleep Cuddle. Cute name yes, but her kick ass content is why I think you’ll add her to your RSS feed.
Her tone of voice is honest and witty. Her posts are helpful, resourceful and beautiful. Put it this way, I never wanted to make a raw kale and brussels sprout salad until reading this post, and I am debating whether or not to skip my nightly dessert routine for the icky Apple Cider Vinegar tea that could have my skin glowing by morning.
But are you asking yourself, “so what?” What is Alexis getting at with this random Thursday post?
I guess the underlying driver for this post is that every night as I comb through my trusty blogroll I am inspired, humbled and to be perfectly honest, pretty intimidated by all the talent out there. Let’s get real for a moment, Lex & Learn is not the start of a business venture, so I don’t have fancy photo editing software or other sparkly add-on’s that make certain blogs simply spectacular. But that doesn’t stop me from going on and on, day after day, and I’ll take all the direction and inspiration I get can from the likes of “those” top, TOP bloggers any chance I can get.
And, thank you. Thank you to my mom, friends, coworkers, family members…to everyone who stops by from time to time. I blog for you. I blog for me. It’s a release in a creative format that doesn’t involve glue, scrapbooking or trips to Hobby Lobby (all things I love in theory but cringe around in reality). I believe that blogging is a way to savor memories and hold yourself accountable for tomorrow’s biggest dreams and goals.
I love the little Lex & Learn world I’ve built and am seriously grateful to have some wonderful supporters who follow along.
Secret Home Alone Habits
April 18, 2012 By 2 Comments
Mike and I haven’t had much evening time together in the past two years because of his masters program, summers aside. The good news is that he graduates in about three weeks, and I cannot wait!
But on a typical Wednesday evening with him at class until close to 10pm, I found myself thinking about all the “home alone” guilty pleasures I enjoy and realized a change is on the way. Sure, trashy Bravo TV and eating cereal standing up in the kitchen for dinner are two things I’ll kind of miss…but it’s the wacky and slightly embarrassing habits that really keep my spirits up night after night.
Like what you ask?
Source: Uploaded by user via Alexa on Pinterest
Dancing unabashedly in my PJs to hip hop and “performing” Adele (and lately Fiona Apple) songs like I am on The Voice or American Idol. Yep, I am throwing it out there. Our living room looks like a regular Broadway review Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights. The blinds are always down and Kona tends to go hide in the basement. Apparently I am not the next American Idol.
Mike being home at night won’t stop my silliness–not one bit. But come on, there are just certain ridiculous habits that are best enjoyed when home alone. Am I right?
What do you do at home when no one is watching?! (Keep it clean people).
The Travel Itch
April 12, 2012 By 1 Comment
I have a major travel itch, but things just aren’t falling in line to scratch it. We do have a few weekend trips planned here and there for friends’ weddings and the like, but spider webs are forming on my passport and I am craving true international travel. It has been FAR too long.
2012 doesn’t seem promising, given the house (not complaining in the least, it is just a fact) and Mike’s new job (also, definitely not a complaint. I am 200% giddy for him).
So I’ve set my sights, goals and financial planning on early 2013. I want to go somewhere warm when it is cold here. I like to dream big, tossing out Africa to Mike the other day while driving, but am content to stick closer to home given budgets and vacation time. I would love to go to Argentina, or finally make our Peru dreams a reality. New Zealand? Don’t mind if I do.
I don’t need fancy hotels or five star restaurants. As long as we’re on reputable airlines, I am ready to survive with a backpack, supermarket snacks and local fare, and basic hotels/upscale hostels. I will not let my love of Four Seasons poolside cocktails stand in the way of what we can make happen!
Until we have a firmer grasp on 2013 time off and finances, I am content to fill my Pinterest “If I Had a Plane” board with jet setting inspiration like the eye candy below.
What stamp is your passport screaming for on its empty pages?
Argentina…
Source: google.com via April on Pinterest
Africa…
Source: nashua.edu via Edna on Pinterest
Down Under…
Source: sydney-australia.biz via Megan on Pinterest
Brazil…
Wordless Wednesday: Mad Men
April 11, 2012 By 1 Comment
Clearly I didn’t have the privilege of taking this photo. A very lucky photographer for Rolling Stone by the name of James Minchin III did. James, I tip my hat to you.
And to Vmac + Cheese for blogging about this gorgeous Mad Men photo shoot.
Apiphobia (Fear of Bees)
April 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Wikipedia definition: Apiphobia is one of the zoophobias prevalent in young children and may prevent them from taking part in any outdoor activities. Older people control the natural fear of bees more easily.
So my question remains, how the hell do I get over my fear of bees as a nearly 30 year old adult (and wasps, and pretty much everything that flies because it may be a bee)?
A few summers ago I felt like it was more under control, but this year it feels worse than normal, and I am worried that I am going to waste a lot of beautiful days indoors because of it. In fact, my stomach drops way faster thinking about a bee around me or god forbid, in the house, than flying on an airplane ~ and that is saying a lot.
Bees and me haven’t mixed since I was a little girl. My grandmother NEVER got mad at me, except for when I would scream bloody murder and nearly give her a heart attack, just because I saw a bee outside. She said I made her heart stop a few times. Have I been stung? Yep, but only a few years ago when I stepped on a dead one on the beach. Otherwise, I have jumped in backyard pools with all my clothes on, stayed indoors on the most beautiful of days and nearly cried when the indoors wasn’t a feasible escape from a rouge yellow and black killer.
So far this spring I keep our back door closed 24/7 (we don’t have a screen door) and cross the street when walking Kona to avoid flowering trees. I am dreading gardening even though I desperately want flowers in our yard and almost jumped out of my skin on Easter Sunday when a few wasps were spotted at Mike’s parents’ backyard.
I know I am not along in this phobia, but I’ve never actually met anyone who truly gets it. If you have any advice at all, I am all ears. Summer is coming up too fast and I just can’t fathom spending it indoors because of this ridiculous phobia.
The Dreaded Cold
March 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I came back from Austin with the dreaded tickle in my throat. I went to bed early, took NyQuil, drank tea and thought by last Friday that I had outsmarted the bug. I proceeded to enjoy the weekend as usual, with a little extra St. Patrick’s Day excitement, and have come to realize that the little bug outsmarted me.
Colds are the ultimate annoyance. You aren’t sick enough to justify a day in bed, but sick enough to feel like total crud. Everyone has their go-to cold cures. Mine include questionable doses of DayQuil, NyQuil and Claritin-D to relieve the pressure. I combine that with tea, Emergen-C and super hot showers to again, un-stuff my miserable head.
Between my 5pm – 7pm “nap” and 9pm NyQuil bedtime last night I aimlessly trolled the web for healing inspiration. I mean, if you have to be sick, wouldn’t it be nicer to be sick in style?
Some under-the-weather inspiration…cozy PJs, soup in a beautiful bowl and plenty of cozy throw blankets.
What do you crave when feeling under the weather?
Happy Birthday Kona
March 7, 2012 By 1 Comment
Kona is two! Well, we aren’t quite sure of his exact birthday so we made an educated guess and picked March 7 because that is the same birthday as our twin nieces…it makes it easier to remember.
Oh yes, happy 3rd birthday to our sweet Caroline and Sophia today too!
In May we’ll have had Kona for two years and it has certainly flown by fast. He is the king of the house and some days I think we love him a little too much. Yes mom, he still gets up in bed for a quick snuggle every morning. And yes, I know that is a very bad habit. But you try saying no to those eyes!
I hope you enjoy a few pictures that I look back on constantly. It was definitely love at first site. (Sorry – these are all iPhone pics).
As you can see he has grown quite a bit from the day we brought him home. He is now holding steady at 82 lbs with the energy of a six month old lab and some confusion of whether or not he is a lap dog. Despite the barking, vet bills, skin problems, and digging, (and did I mention the barking?) he is our favorite little man.
Happy birthday, Kona man!
Yoga Workshop
February 25, 2012 By 1 Comment
Source: prAna
On Tuesday night I joined two colleagues for a three hour yoga workshop led by Bryan Kest. I have never taken a yoga class that was longer than an hour so I was pretty apprehensive. He spoke for awhile, and the last part of the class included a meditation (newsflash, I suck at meditating), but overall I really enjoyed it.
Bryan said a lot of things that really stuck with me. Like how we bring our shit (sorry mom) to yoga and turn yoga into shit (again, sorry mom). How we turn yoga into a competitive sport to see who can touch their head to their knees further instead of quieting our minds and working to release those competitive, negative thoughts from our minds. How we are so obsessed with getting a pose “right” instead of getting it correct for our own bodies in that moment.
He challenged us to be okay with falling out of poses instead of judging ourselves–to exercise and eat in moderation, instead of pushing and starving ourselves to fit into the mold that society pushes down our throats–to just surrender to yoga and meditation instead of trying to make it something complicated.
Three hours with Bryan Kest did not change my life, so please don’t think that I am running off to India for my own Eat, Pray, Love experience. However, it made me even more curious about exploring yoga a bit more–beyond the physical practice. It made me want to take a day off for the Wanderlust Festival in Colorado this summer or find a few girlfriends who are up for a yoga retreat. Big Sky Yoga Retreats in Montana look pretty amazing.
I have no idea where yoga will take me in life, but I am quite convinced that I need to take yoga, both the physical and mental, along with me as much as possible.
Have you ever gone on a yoga or wellness-type retreat? I’d love to hear about it!
