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I have gotten to the point where this end-of-the-week series is my favorite post to write. Each week has its own challenges, highs, and lows-- and this series always reminds me to slow down and appreciate the little things, before time flies by in its too-fast blur.
Earlier this week, I stepped downstairs to the sight of my husband grinding the green powder of his matcha latte. A simple scene: just part of his morning routine. Yet that simple moment encapsulated so much of what I love about marriage:
The simple fact that you know, when you wake up, that you'll go downstairs and see your spouse getting breakfast together. Barefoot, jeans, tshirt. The tinkling timbre of cereal hitting the inside of a bowl. The shrill whistle-whine of the teapot. The fresh smell of ground coffee waiting on the countertop. The first sizzle of bacon in the pan.
It's moments like this where I find myself thinking Can there ever be enough of this? Will I ever get enough of morning light slanting across a wood floor, of the honey jar's amber glow? Will I ever reach my fill of that slow morning pace? Will I ever grow tired of watching the tendons and grooves of his hands--folding and unfolding, flexing and reaching--as he works?
Little moments like these create the bedrock of what we are as a couple.
Nothing much, yet so much. Everything.
This week saw another impromptu snow-day, although thankfully not as bad as the last one. There's nothing like a snow day to make you appreciate the sturdy roof over your head and the warmth of your own home. These pink carnations in our bedroom window created a spring-barrier between us and the cold. I don't know about you, but I am ready for some bright flowers and warm weather. Although, with Maryland winters being what they are, we're mostly likely in for a few more months of winter. Yet dealing with the gray skies and chilly weather reminds me to appreciate the simple things like home, good food, and family.
In case you missed it this week, I shared some of my favorite winter coping strategies along with a delicious recipe for savory crockpot meatballs.
Some interesting things I read this week:
How did you react to Albright's statement about the "special circle of hell for women who don't support other women," her way of reprimanding young women for not supporting Clinton? Personally, I base my voting on my research and principles not on my sex.
I've been following this young couple as they travel the world together. Would you sell all to see the world?
Some tips for cleaning your home with natural and homemade products.
A favorite local blogger reminds us to celebrate the home we have with her new hashtag.
Have a wonderful weekend!
No way around it... this week started out as doozy.
There some days where you feel like the universe took a wet towel, twisted it up, and then just beat the living snot out of you with it. Before Wednesday even arrived, I found myself asking questions like "Why me?" and "What did I do to deserve this?" and "Please stop hitting me, Universe, you big mean bully!" At one point, I found myself sitting on the couch, head bowed, begging for strength and faith to just face the day.
Here's a hard truth: Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to do everything right, to make good decisions, to be a decent, God-fearing person.... crap just happens. You can't change or prevent it. And swallowing your ire and saying "it is what it is" gives you indigestion. Saying "it's just too bad" feels like giving up, or like you're condoning bad behavior by not retaliating. News flash: turning the other cheek hurts. Nothing quite prepares you for that life lesson.
Then, one morning, I walked downstairs to find this simple scene: a shaft of light steaming into the dark kitchen and illuminating a dish rag. No big deal right? Yet somehow, to me, this little scene seemed so beautiful in its simplicity. The remainder of the room rested in this early-morning dimness. Nothing disturbed, everything still in its place before the day began. Just one pale beam of light on a winter morning. Simple and clean. Absurdly, I thought "I'm so happy I saw this." Within a few minutes, the sun had shifted, and with it the light faded and moved to another place.
Yes, bad and unexpected nonsense happens to us. People are mean. People are dishonest. Mistakes are made. Traffic is sucky. The weather runs afoul. Who knows. Yet there's going to be a beam of light, shining in to make you feel clean and happy again.
Favorite reads from around the inter-webs:
I love Whit's insights into social media engagement: are we seeking to share our story or just create an image?
A basic primer for the U.S. primaries. Am I the only one who needed this? I hope not.
Sooooo... would you go a month without shampooing your hair? I don't know if I could handle it.
I've always struggled with self-confidence. Then, one of my former professors told me "to wear a sharp suit and act like you're powerful until you feel powerful. It'll fool everyone else too." Turns out he was onto something according to the Everygirl.
Do you ever look at others' social media accounts, grumpily wondering how they can afford/have time to travel? Well, moping about it is one of three ways to ensure you'll never travel. Instead, be purposeful about it: plan and budget your dream trip, just like everything else.
Try these yummy Valentine's Day shortbread cookies. They're like mini cakes!
This past week consisted of snowday after snowday, with much mopping, shoveling, and graceless ice-slipping occupying most of those days. After receiving 35+ inches of snow courtesy of Winter Storm Jonas, Frederick has remained in a state of snow emergency all week. City workers have labored unending shifts to clear our main roads, while heavy equipment has been brought in to remove the dirt-tinged snow-mountains that now dominate the street corners and curbs. Meanwhile, by order of the mayor, our cars must remain in downtown parking garages until the crews clear enough to allow street parking once more. The glistening snow-globe universe of the weekend has melted into one big, time-consuming mess.
Being stuck indoors, though, has been an enjoyable experience. Rather than going or eating out, Mark and I have been cooking more-- breakfast, lunch, and dinner--and finding creative ways to entertain ourselves. Netflix and video games figured into our forced house-arrest, of course, along with spontaneous cookie baking and impromptu snow-fort building. We played games and read books together on the couch. In some cases, we just talked, swapping stories and sharing memories with each other. We didn't do anything earth-shattering; we really didn't do much at all. We just enjoyed each other's time and talked.
Those four days of home-bound solitude made me realize how much I should cherish the ordinary: just spending a day with my husband at home. Social media so often focuses on the big moments in our lives: our weddings, our children, our vacations, our promotions. Even in this space, I mainly discuss our home renovations, work goals, and major experiences. How often do I celebrate the ordinary? The everyday, this-is-real-life moments? Because, I think when I look back someday, those simple, little things will be what stands out the most. Those days that don't seem like much when you're in them--just another day. But I know that someday, I'll probably give anything to go back to the winter of 2016, curled onto that couch with Mark, just talking and doing nothing much.
Some recent favorite reads from around the web:
In case you missed my excitement on Instagram, our master bedroom makeover made it into Apartment Therapy's Before & After section. You can see the article here!
3 reasons to exercise that have nothing to do with weight
A suggestion I may have to try: wearing silk camisole rather than a cotton camisole.
This article from Darling Magazine perfectly captured what I've been trying to say for the past month: "A life of over-consumption is self-centered; it takes more than it gives. A life of contribution is an outward-focused life; it creates more than it takes. I believe we have been wired to contribute more than we consume. If you feel worn out from the barrage of messages urging you to consume more, I encourage you to take a step back and mindfully entertain the possibility of living a simpler and more creative life."
Lastly, I have to brag on my friend Whitney's beautiful weaving which now hangs over her bed. You may have spied it in our inaugural "A Peek Indoors" post this week!
What are you grateful for this week? What ordinary thing in your life
deserves a little celebration?
Have a lovely weekend!
