dear diary // a post about lately.

Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

I just got back from the grocery store. I snapped a photo of these flowers I bought, put them in water, and then sat down to write. I feel like it’s been such a long time since I’ve been on this space. Life has been happening, I’ve just not found the time or motivation to write anything down. I blame it on February. February is hard.

This past week I was on winter vacation from school. It always comes at a time when I just need a break– so I welcome it, and I savor it. Before we left school last Friday we had to have all of our report cards done and comments written. Report card comments are a new thing for me and my goodness did I procrastinate writing them, which is always the way I do things. The very last minute comes around and I’m up till all hours, and then I finish and I think to myself, Well that wasn’t so bad, why on earth did I wait so long? Oh, it’s just the way of it, and who knows if I’ll ever learn.

A few weeks ago my grandmother, whom I love and adore, fell one afternoon and had to be brought to the emergency room. It turns out her spinal stenosis had caused her so much pain in her back that her legs gave out and she lost control of her balance. Since then she has been using a wheel chair, but really needs help to do so many things, as she just can’t get around on her own. This news literally shook me up and had me fearing all sorts of sad things like death and loneliness. I can’t imagine life without my Grammy– and even the thought of her unable to walk got me all worked up and hysterical. Over the last 3 weeks my mom and dad have been taking turns driving down to Connecticut to help out and figure out the next step. My mom is so good with these things– talking to doctors, and figuring out the details. It was decided she would have surgery on her back to help remove a disk that was bothering her and we all went down this week to be with her while she was in the hospital. I am so glad that I was able to go and spend the week with her. There is no other place I would rather be.

{She’s doing very well at the moment. Thank  you, THANK YOU for your prayers.}

Other than that, life has been plenty fine.

I am desperate for spring to come after I’ve gotten a taste of it today, but I’ve also been loving spending weekends up in Vermont on the ski slopes. I bought a 4 pack this year in efforts to join Zan {skiing is his love language} and so far, so good. It’s GORGEOUS up there, the ski house is awesome, and gosh darnit, I think I might be pretty good. I have pictures to share soon, so be on the lookout for them– they really are out of a storybook.

Also. I’ve drastically changed my eating habits the last few weeks in an effort to feel healthier and hopefully figure out some allergy and sinus problems I’ve been having for a few years. I’m doing the Whole30 and today marks day 13 and I feel really good. Whole30 is something I’ve been thinking about doing for a long time, and one weekend at the beginning of February, I just decided to go for it and haven’t looked back since. I have plans to write a post about the whole experience, but for now I’ll say this– it’s not that hard and I sleep like I’m dead.

The one other thing I’ll add is that I have a good amount of energy, which makes me really happy. There were days in the past where I’d be so tired in the afternoon and right now I don’t feel any of that. I got a Fitbit to help motivate me to exercise more, and I can’t say much about that yet either since I’ve had it for less than 24 hours, except for the fact that I have been powering it around town the past 2 days like I’m on a mission, so there’s that. 10,000 steps does seem like a reach for me at this point {which is both sad, and true}, but I’ll be sure to report back, when I have more thoughts about it. Just gotta keep walking. Wish me luck.

This was so DEAR DIARY I almost wonder if I should post it at all, except I will, and that will be that.

Also, my groceries are waiting.

Until next time, dear friends! I hope to be back soon. :)

when your friends come to town…

friends-in-boston-2

Oh, my friends! They came and they stayed and they played. And just as I suspected it would be {the best}, it was.

Two weeks ago tonight my high school friends flew, and drove, and bussed it up to Boston. We did all the best things, of course, filling our days with good food and good conversation. We walked along the Charles River for views of the Boston skyline and drank wine in my living room well into the night. On the third day we walked through the city, filling our hearts with hometown Basketball and our bodies with pretzels and Harpoon Beer. I loved this weekend with all my might, and if I had my way, I’d choose this all the months of the year. It sucks sometimes being so far from your friends, but it always makes the visits that much better. You savor, you know? We most certainly did.

Here’s a few of the details from our weekend in the Bean:

EAT // Border Cafe + Flour Bakery + Duozo Sushi + The South End Buttery

STAY // We stayed at the Westin one night because FANCY! {It was wonderful.}

PLAY // Boston Public Library + Harpoon Beer Hall + MY LIVING ROOM <—– the best spot of all.

We ate at all my go-to places, and since the BPL was so close to the hotel, I brought the girls in for the views {they are the most glorious in the city}. The Harpoon Beer Hall was one of my favorite spots of the weekend— I’d been wanting to go for just about forever and what a perfect chance to visit with friends. The space is AMAZING, the beer, of course, fantastic, and! Pretzels of every kind! I chose the cinnamon and sugar and MMMMMM MMMMM GOOD.

When I really think about it, the best of all we did was the time we spent in my house. We were cozy and comfortable, exactly the way it should be. Most of all, I want to remember the music we played, the dinner we made, the time we spent talking together. And that warm and fuzzy feeling of knowing you belong.

Screen Shot 2014-02-12 at 11.28.09 PMProcessed with VSCOcam with x4 presetScreen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10.01.07 PM Processed with VSCOcam with p5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with p5 preset Screen Shot 2014-02-12 at 11.36.41 PM Processed with VSCOcam with 10 presetScreen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10.04.11 PMProcessed with VSCOcam with m5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with t1 preset Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with t1 presetScreen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10.02.52 PM Processed with VSCOcam with f3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with p5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with x4 preset Processed with VSCOcam with p5 presetScreen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10.01.50 PM Processed with VSCOcam with p5 presetScreen Shot 2014-02-12 at 10.00.55 PM Processed with VSCOcam with p5 preset

I loved this weekend and I love these friends. Forever and ever AMEN.

snow day.

Processed with VSCOcam with 5 preset

The snow outside my window right now is honestly the prettiest thing. The flakes are the perfect size and steady. The ground and trees and houses are covered in fluffy powder and the sky is the most exact shade of white. I am ready for spring {always}, but a day off is nice, too, of course. Today we made eggs and bacon for breakfast. And lucky us! A leftover sticky sticky bun from the weekend was hanging around our kitchen, too.

Things have been good here lately. Friends have come to visit, weekends have been filled with a little bit of everything, and the school days are moving quick and smooth. A sweet spot, warm and good in the midst of a cold, dark winter.

//

I wanted to thank you so much for all your suggestions and comments on my West Coast post last week. I’m so glad I asked because we really don’t know anything about that part of the country aside from the Golden Gate Bridge and the wonders of the Pacific Ocean. Now I have a long list of places to go and things to see. It’s so fun taking the time to research every restaurant, view, and attraction. I have been spending most nights googling this and googling that. I know our trip is over 2 months away, but I want to have it planned just so, and all your comments have been an amazing help. THIS PLACE was brought to my attention via an instagram friend and well, PASSION EYES FOREVER I was able to book us a night there at the tail end of our trip. DREAM A LITTLE DREAM, OH YES.

Anyway! Today is a treat and I plan to spend it as such. I hope you’re having a cozy one!

a little taste of providence.

taste-of-PVD1

Last Friday night I headed to Rhode Island for a girls night in with some of my favorite blogger/twitter/instagram friends. Gathering with internet friends is a regular occurrence for me, and while there was a time in my life when I thought this was unusual, I’m mostly of the mindset now that it AIN’T NO THING! It feels like the most natural kind of friendship in the world at this point. And especially with these ladies. We spent the night at Lindsay’s drinking wine and talking about life. A real life sleepover, which, if your wondering, is still as fun as the early years.

Before this trip, I’d been to Providence once in college to see John Mayer play {in HIS early years, at a small dive bar– the intimacy!}, and one other time to walk around the Providence Place Mall. This trip was particularly awesome because I got the chance to actually see the city, and what a wonderful little city it is. In the morning we headed to brunch at The Grange {IDEAL INTERIOR with okay food {sticky bun, YES. eggs benedict, I’ve had better.}, then we walked around Westminster Street for a little while popping into shops, and also down Benefit Street to enjoy some of the architecture and each other’s company.

I had no idea I’d like Providence as much as I did, but I LOVED IT. What a great little city!

Processed with VSCOcam with m5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with m3 preset Processed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 preset Processed with VSCOcam with m3 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 presetProcessed with VSCOcam with 5 preset

Such charm, I love it. I will definitely be taking a return trip in the near future. I’m thinking maybe once the trees start to bloom.

Sigh. I bet it’s especially lovely in the spring. ♥