five things on a sunday in march.

So.

5 THINGS.

Rachael said she doesn’t usually do these things, and then she did (and I am glad). I’m here to say that I definitely do these things, so let’s get started already. These things are fun and fun is good.

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one :: The nickname “Nanner” came about my junior year in college. I would always always always forget things as I was leaving my dorm and my crazy/silly neighbor (now a best friend) kept telling me I reminded her of her “Nan” (her grandmother). It stuck on pretty quick with the rest of my friends and I’ve never looked back since.

two :: Speaking of college, I had a really great group of girlfriends throughout my years at school. Senior year we all lived in a big brick house on the edge of a busy road in town. I will never forget the parties we had in that house. And the singing and dancing into the night. Crazy good, fun times. The best. I’m also still close with my high school girlfriends. They are some of the best people I know and I feel incredibly thankful to call them mine. I get really bummed out from time to time that we can’t see each other more often, but when we do see each other everything’s exactly the same as it always was and I always feel like the luckiest.

three :: Speaking of high school, my dad owned an old Cabriolet that looked just like this one during the year I was learning to drive. It was kind of old and run-down, but I really loved it. I still remember the way it smelled and the feeling of driving to the lake in the summer sun with top down and the music blaring. I get serious nostalgia when I think of that car and would give anything to go back in time to that summer, if only for a moment. SIGH.

four :: What else. My biggest pet peeve is when people drive too close behind me. I am not a slow driver, and so when this happens I often feel like the person behind me is just an impatient speed demon that obviously never learned driving etiquette. I instantly go on super defense mode and drive unreasonably and annoyingly slow just to piss the person tailgaiting off. I also get really mad and usually start shouting profanity into the rearview mirror as if the driver can hear me (to which the other person is more than likely shouting and cursing back at me). Not my finest moments, but I’m okay with it. And a disclaimer if you should ever find yourself in a car behind me: STAY BACK. Just stay back.

five :: I am a pretty serious perfectionist. Sometimes this gets in the way of life, but most of the time it’s just ingrained into who I am and I kind of love it. If I am doing something I am interested and passionate about (which I’d say is the case for 90% of the aspects of my life) then I will go above and beyond what would probably be perfectly acceptable and appreciated. This goes for blogging and instagramming and my etsy shop, and definitely teaching, and also party throwing. This does not effect keeping up with the laundry and emptying the dishwasher (unless I am having people over).

On the other hand, I am incredibly laid back and easy going (aside from the tailgaiting shenanigans, mind you). I take things as they come, try to see the bright side when things don’t work out, and generally live by the principals of “don’t sweat the small stuff” and “life is what you make it”, but also very much “everything happens for a reason.” I’m down with feeling all the feelings (goodness knows I love a good cry), but mostly I try to appreciate and enjoy life, because I see it as a gift and I’m not about to waste it.

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And that’s that. It’s kind of hard to think of 5 random {hopefully new-to-you} things. But also fun, too.

The best is reading other people’s so here is where I will tag some of you:

Jenna + Eliza + Colleen + Melanie + Casey + Melissa

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{P.S. My necklace is from Anthropologie and I am in LOVE.}

Happy Sunday, all!

a wish for spring

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{art print + pretty pastels + coffee + shoes + mint necklace + ferris wheel + stripes + clutch}

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Bright is good, right? Especially on the rainiest + coldest of days. I’d like to ask what happened to the sun? It was here and now it’s gone. Yes, it definitely came out for a little while, which counts in my book, but it slipped away before I got too satisfied. On top of that, they say there’s a storm coming in.

NO. I want to shout. Enough, winter. Get going on your way, already. I am over you.

Lately I’ve been feeling that itch for spring. It’s a good itch, one that prickles at each part of your body and gets your senses going– revving up, starting fresh, starting new.

I know it’s not quite here yet, but I’ve got the itch.

I’m listening to new music, making plans for the months ahead— getting exited for daylight savings, dreaming of switching out my clothes, and lusting after bike rides through the breeze. My mind is racing with possibility. I want to travel and visit friends, I want to explore the city + my little town, I want to walk with Zan in the evening as the sun dips low in the sky. This time of year always swells up my heart.

I am so ready.

I know it’s not quite here yet, but I’ve got the itch.

I can feel it coming from somewhere.

More every day. Every minute. Every second.

I can feel it coming.

… Can’t you?

my favorite children’s books: picture book edition // v. 2

The Little House + The Dot + The Little Engine That Could

Whistle for Willie + The Diary of a Worm + Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Not A Box + The Jolly Postman +The Popcorn Book

The Rainbow Fish + The Giving Tree + Love You Forever

The Lion and The Mouse + Olivia + Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild!

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type + Skippyjon Jones + Miss Nelson is Missing

The Tale of Peter Rabbit + Koala Lou + Library Lion

Goodnight Gorilla + Stone Soup + Goodnight Moon

The Stinky Cheese Man + Where the Sidewalk Ends + Strega Nona

Lily’s Purple Plastic Purse + Zen Shorts + The Story of Ferdinand

The Runaway Bunny + The Story About Ping + Art and Max

The Kissing Hand + Fancy Nancy + Harold and the Purple Crayon

Bear Snores On + The Mitten + The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Green Eggs and Ham + Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs + Curious George

Tikki Tikki Tembo + If You Give A Mouse A Cookie + Make Way For Ducklings

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The teacher in me needed to do SOMETHING to recognize Read Across America Day.

In honor of Dr. Seuss’ birthday (yesterday!), and since my Monday-Fridays are filled with books and reading, I thought it might be nice to add to my list of what (I think) are some of the best books around. Lots of these are old classics, many you may recognize or be nodding your head, “Yes, I remember that one!”, and some are newer, and just as fun and/or lovely as the ones written many years ago.

As a teacher and lover of stories for young children, I could go on all day about why these are so wonderful, but next time you’re in a book store, I urge you to stop in the children’s section for a bit to find one of these and see for yourself. I guarantee it’ll make you smile.

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For more favorites:

My Favorite Children’s Books: Picture Book Edition // v. 1

{I hope to post a favorite children’s chapter book edition in this lifetime, too.}

HAPPY READING!

blogger love in cambridge…

FRIENDS! READERS! PEOPLE OF BOSTON!!

I have been to the most adorable cafe in all the land.

I came upon it last Thursday when I went out to meet some of my favorite ever blog friends for lunch.

But is it not the most amazing place ever OR WHAT.

The menu is wonderful, too. Really, truly, delicious.

Tatte Bakery + Cafe

BREAKFAST + LUNCH // DINNER

AND.

AND!

The best part of all:

My dates!

Claire + Bridget + Rachael + Natalie

{and little Mathias, too}

Thankful that blogging has brought me closer to each of these women. They are seriously the loveliest.