a recognition of myself.

i need to remember to write. 

not only is it like therapy to me, 

but i just don't want to fall 

out of the practice.

i already feel rusty at just 

simply writing my thoughts down.

i always have myself. 

i always have a pen and paper.

i always have books and stories

and movies and shows on netflix. 

i need stillness and quiet

and a recognition of myself.

to have those things

is to have peace. 

a milestone.

listening to: beach house, specifically, the devotion album from 2008, which is probably my favorite. beach house has got to top the list of my favorite things to listen to on an overcast, rainy spring/summer day. you should try it sometime.

yesterday was my very last day of class. my last time to walk the halls of the allied health building as a classroom-only student. my last time to congregate with my classmates in that setting. true, in december, we will all be together again for graduation, but, you know, yesterday was kind of a turning point, a big deal, a milestone. 

and then, there's the fact that justin and i have a son coming into this world at the end of august. 

there is so much to celebrate right here in this moment. so that is what i am going to do.

photo: hydrangeas | lowe's home improvement | greenville, nc | may 2016

winter break.

chilled air
scarves, tights, boots
endless time spent wrapped in a blanket, on the couch
winter break

for twenty-sixteen: words.

As my mini series of goals, resolutions, etc., for twenty sixteen continues today, I thought I would share five words that I want to focus on for this year. These are words that I hope to embody as I make my way through this new year.

1. warm - having, showing, or expressive of enthusiasm, affection, or kindness. 

2. interested - showing curiosity or concern about something or someone; having a feeling of interest. 

3. industrious - diligent and hard-working. 

4. resourceful - having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. 

5. calm - (of a person, action, or manner) not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other emotions.

What words do you wish to embody this year?

See my resolutions here.
See my goals here.

for twenty sixteen: goals.

Though I wrote about my resolutions on Friday, I wanted to share my more specific goals today. These are the five things I most want to achieve in the year to come!

1. get fit and stay that way

2. read at least 12 books

3. grow my hair out

4. crochet 5 scarves

5. purge my wardrobe

What are your goals for twenty sixteen?

See my resolutions here.

the sunday currently, volume 120.

hello from the TSC headquarters

Hello and welcome to the first 2016 edition of The Sunday Currently! I hope you are all enjoying the remainder of this holiday weekend. In the coming week, I will be sharing more in my 2016 Resolutions Series, which I am excited about!

reading The Silkworm, by Robert Galbraith (aka J.K. Rowling). I devoured The Girl on the Train, by Paula Hawkins, while I was visiting Shreveport. It reminded me a lot of Gone Girl in style. I enjoyed it, and it was suspenseful, which is something I've realized lately that I like in a book.

writing in my travelers notebook lately. I need to do a post on it, since I got it for Christmas. I absolutely love it. Here's the one I got. I have four pocket-sized Moleskines in there now. One for lists/plans/notes; one for my journal; one for my gratitude journal; and one for my health journal. I'm really enjoying it so far.

listening to Justin Bieber's new album, which is part of my hello 2016 playlist, which I'm currently working on building. I will share it when it has been completed. I think I'm really liking JB's new album, actually. I've never been a big fan before, but I'm kind of excited about this. 

thinking and talking a lot about the future lately, with Justin. There's a lot on the docket for 2016, and I can't wait to share the journey here. 

smelling like one of my Christmas gifts from my parents and Kara, which is Chanel Chance. I'm a little bit in love with it, and a bonus is that the smell of it reminds me of Christmas in Shreveport with family. 

wishing to stop being so lazy! I've been really lazy ever since we returned from Shreveport. I'm planning to change that this coming week, as it is the last week before spring semester starts! I have a lot I want to accomplish this week. 

hoping to get everything accomplished on the list I'm forming in my head. I need to put pen to paper, because then it will be even more likely to get done. 

wearing workout clothes, since we just came home from the gym and the grocery store. Also, a very warm, black, puffy North Face jacket that I love.

loving all the time that Justin and I have gotten to spend together over the last few days. We've watched a lot of episodes of The Sopranos, and last night we watched Rocket Science, which was pretty good. We have also been slowly chipping away at the housework that I did not accomplish before our travels. But, like I said, this coming week, I'm going to be productive and get it all done.

wanting clarity on a lot of things. I need to pray more, as well as be more open-minded. 

needing to continue drinking water, and actually, drink even more. I'm getting back into the habit, thankfully.

feeling calm and rested after my workout. It is truly amazing how much better working out makes me feel.

clicking through my updated list of blogs to read. I'm excited to keep up these reads and draw inspiration from them throughout the year.

What are you doing? Link up & share below.

for twenty sixteen: resolutions.

1. make - and maintain -  a home cleaning routine
2. make dinner at least three nights per week
3. put health first
4. read and write obsessively
5. love the best i can

for twenty sixteen.

here's to a bright twenty sixteen!

Happy new year! For the first week of twenty sixteen, I will be sharing a mini series about my goals, resolutions, words, books, and more. What do you have planned for the coming 365 days? What do you want to accomplish or read or write or listen to? Please do share. Here's to the brand new year!

joyful shreveport.

Well, our Christmas vacation in Shreveport was over in a flash. 

We ate lots of delicious food, spent lots of time with family, went shopping, and saw a couple of our friends. As always happens on these visits, we didn't get to see everyone that we would have hoped to have seen, but that always seems to be the way of it when we're in for less than a week.

This trip was a joyful one, however, filled with memories I know we will never want to forget. And while I'm glad to be settling back into my home routine, I am already missing Shreveport and all that place means to me.

You may have noticed, too, that I didn't blog one bit while there either - I know, slacker. Sometimes you just have to "unplug," right? I am happy to be blogging again, happy to be home, happy to be settling in to see what twenty-sixteen will bring.

home for the holidays.

before the trimmings

There's nothing quite like the time leading up to when we get to travel home to be with family for the holidays. There's a spark in the air, an energy. Everything looks brighter and more festive. 

In the time we've lived over here in North Carolina, I've grown very fond of travel. There's something magical about starting out in one place and ending up in another. Add to that the little details - the wool carry-on bag that I've grown to love even more than when we picked it up in a shop on a sleepy Saturday; the buzz of the airport, with hundreds - or is it thousands? I've never been good with numbers - of people, all going to different, interesting places; watching the planes take off and land in a peaceful, amazing little dance... There is so much about travel to love. 

There's also something so renewing about this time of year. Of course, there is the New Year right around the corner, getting ready to usher in twenty sixteen. But there's just something special about feeling like everything is a little celebration. Nothing is too small to indulge in, nothing is too mundane to be exciting. What a truly wonderful time of year. 

And when we arrive in our beloved hometown, I'm hoping for lots of things, but especially long talks sitting on the cold, comforting wood floors of the Ontario House; the click-click-click of my DSLR and phone cameras, paving the way for memories made and kept; endless cups of coffee enjoyed; long, long talks about the future and where that may take us; but most of all, just love. Love of family - is there anything more fulfilling in this world?

Here's to the holiday season.

the sunday currently, volume 119.

o christmas tree

reading - Sarah Morgan: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Woman. I haven't been reading it lately, with the hectic end to the semester, but I am starting it back up today. I'm so excited to be reading for pleasure again.

writing - a lot of pre-travel to-do lists in my planner. Excited to visit my hometown next week. Also writing? In my ink & paper journal  almost daily this past week. Couldn't be happier about that, and couldn't be more excited for the traveler's notebook that I'm getting for Christmas, which I will share more about next week.

listening - to another episode of The Sopranos, my new television obsession.

thinking - that coffee that I brew at home is the best coffee.

smelling - our Christmas tree every time I come down the stairs. It is the most perfect, most festive thing ever.

wishing - for safe travels & a wonderful visit home next week.

hoping - for the same. 

wearing - my ECU OT sweatshirt almost constantly. It's so cozy, but it already has a stain on it. I'm going to have to wash it!

loving - days off spent at home. 

wanting - a big mug of hot coffee.

needing - the same. 

feeling - content and happy.

clicking - nothing at the moment. Any suggestions?

What are you doing? Link up & share below.

the sunday currently, volume 118.

currently: studying for finals.

what are you doing? link up & share below.

let's carve a pumpkin.

On a chilly weekend in late October, Carina had a pumpkin carving party. We all gathered in her back yard on a blanket, pumpkins in hand, carving tools at the ready, & created some of the most festive jack-o'-lanterns you ever did see. We ate soup, decorated cookies, chatted around a bonfire, & just generally enjoyed each other's company. And I know that this is one of the memories from being in grad school that I will hold close to me for years to come. 

music & mornings.

[Editor's Note: the following post was scribbled in a statistics notebook in between learning about p values & matched pairs.]

This morning, I would have classified myself as particularly slow-moving. Then, I slowly sipped coffees (eventually totaling to four cups) & slowly came to life.

I took Tahoe outside, & on the way down the sidewalk, I listened to Ours, by Taylor Swift. 

Halfway down the sidewalk, I changed the song over to Peaches, by In The Valley Below, & I remembered a couple of semesters ago & realized how far I have come, but I also felt a weird sort of kinship with myself that comforted me greatly. 

Almost back to the house & time for a new song. I chose Get It by Matt & Kim, because it always pumps me up. And after walking in the misty, soul-sucking rain, I just needed to be pumped up. 

Into the kitchen, making the second pot of coffee, & I chose San Francisco, by the Mowgli's. A song that never fails to make me feel warm & remind me that the world is inherently good, all in one swoop. 

i've been in love with love

and the idea of something

binding us together

you know that love is strong enough

And then, I was dancing in the kitchen while putting away the water pitcher. Thinking of the day ahead, filled with a friend's birthday, & lunch together, & presents, & the holiday season.

The world is inherently good.

the sunday currently, volume 117.

christmas season is here

CURRENTLY

reading - Sarah Morgan: The Civil War Diary of a Southern Woman. I've long been wanting to read this book that my mother picked up during a visit to Destrehan Plantation in August of 1996, & it felt fitting to start it up over Thanksgiving break.   

writing - Christmas lists! Soon it will be time to start up my Christmas shopping, & I want to be prepared. Also writing? In my journal. And in my planner, writing and crossing off to-do lists as we wrap up the rest of this semester. 

listening - to my Christmas playlist on Spotify this morning was just what the doctor ordered. I woke early and was downstairs before 7. I turned on the Christmas tree, brewed a pot of coffee, & got some work done before anyone else woke up. It was a morning well-spent!

thinking - that it's time to get in check with diet & exercise. I have greatly enjoyed my very indulgent Thanksgiving week, but I'm ready to be healthy and get in shape before the end of the year.

smelling - my Christmas tree. We got it yesterday, & every time I come down the stairs, I get a whiff of fresh pine needles. There's nothing quite like that, is there?

wishing - to stay calm for the remainder of the semester. I always get stressed right at the end, as everything wraps up and becomes final. I have never done well with endings, & school is no different.

hoping - to soak in the indulgences of the holiday season. Christmas music, Christmas movies, Christmas spirit. It's so easy to let it sweep by in a blur. It's my goal this year to really take time to enjoy it.

wearing - stretchy pants, stretchy sweater, scarf, vest, and jewelry. And not a stitch of makeup.

loving - visits with family. And, weirdly enough, the first trip up to the library after a break. There's something about getting back into the swing of things that really speaks to me. I think it's my love of routines & schedules & daily life.

wanting - consistent workouts, the drinking of lots of water, & the taking of personal time this week. 

needing - see "wanting" above. 

feeling - happy, blessed, content, relieved, & all the other good emotions right now. I'm very thankful for everything and everyone in my life. 

clicking - to see if there are any good Cyber Monday deals. What are you planning to scoop up? I can think of a few things that are on my list.

What are you doing? Link up & share below.

the sunday currently, volume 116.

cloudy thursday

fresh market hand cream

first 2015 peppermint mocha

Hello, good morning. I am coming to you from a windy-rainy Greenville today. I just ate a bowl of berry oatmeal, & I am sipping on a brown sugar latte from the local coffee shop. Justin & I are planning to clean today, in anticipation of our Thanksgiving guests, who are set to arrive on Tuesday. I will also be chipping away at some upcoming assignments, so that Thanksgiving break can be just that - a break. I am so excited that the holidays are upon us. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, & New Years truly combine to form my favorite time of year. 

CURRENTLY

reading nothing, & I am sad about it. I never finished Go Set A Watchman, & I don't think I'm going to. I'm going to bring Jessica's copy back to her tomorrow, in fact, because I have had it since the summer, & I don't want to hold onto it any longer. Someone else may want to borrow it from her! I am missing my passion for reading lately. I hope to rekindle it over Christmas break. Or, perhaps over Thanksgiving break? I am interested in starting a series that I can become enveloped within - any suggestions? 

writing in a journal again, & wondering why I ever stopped. Much like working out, it's one of those things that so very easy to fall out of the habit of doing. But when you start back up, it's like magic. I am hoping to get a Traveler's Notebook from Chic Sparrow for Christmas. I've been hemming and hawing over it long enough. That, plus the Moleskines I plan to fill it with, plus the thoughts & lists & writing that I plan to fill those with, makes me so excited.

listening to Justin choosing a movie for us to watch as we clean the house today. He mentioned Harry Potter a few minutes ago. How wonderful a Sunday would that make?

thinking that red nails are going to happen either later tonight or early tomorrow morning. Thanksgiving feels like dark red to me. I need to check out my stash & see what I have. I love painting my nails!

smelling a pumpkin candle burning. I need to get all the pumpkin in that I can this week, because it will officially be Christmas season on Friday, which means fir & balsam, apples & cinnamon, citrus & sage for candles. Christmas candles are my favorite candles, but I love the delicious scent of pumpkin as well.

wishing for productivity & staying on top of things Monday & Tuesday. I need to stay focused so that I can get ahead & get everything done. It can & will be done! 

hoping that my parents have so much fun visiting my sister in Nashville later this week. I think they're going to really love it. I'm excited to visit in April, but I hope I can make it over there before that. 

wearing Justin's pajama pants & Justin's pajama shirt. Sometimes it's just more fun to wear boy clothes. Especially when it's cold outside. Also wearing boots. It's rainy today, as I mentioned above. Perfect Thanksgiving weather. Well, at least the cold is. 

loving Courier today, can you tell? Also loving productivity & the holiday season & Christmas decorations & vitamins & new hand cream, & just, everything good.

wanting a glass of ice water. My new OT sweatshirt to arrive soon. My November Birchbox to ship (I just re-upped my subscription earlier this week). 

needing a day of extreme, enjoyable productivity. To up my water intake. A good workout this afternoon. Focus. Determination. Calm. 

feeling cozy & grateful. And excited for the holidays. And ready to start sharing more on my blog over Thanksgiving & Christmas breaks. [I've been writing blog posts in notebooks - they just need to  be typed out here.] Relieved that my second statistics test is over with. Nervous to see my grade on it. Excited to make an appointment. 

clicking Birchbox every day lately to see when they're going to ship my November box. I'm not even annoyed - just excited to start this subscription up again! 

What are you doing as we gear up for Thanksgiving week? Link up & share below. 

the sunday currently, volume 115.

Not a lot of photos have been snapped lately. Not a lot of words read or written. That doesn't mean, however, that there isn't heart behind these words. Though they are few, they are still written with love and intention. And with wishes for world peace. And for Christmas break to be upon us. And for more time with loved ones. And for more journaling and introspection and reading and writing and listening and thinking. Even though I know that these posts exist as a sort of timeline of my life, it still stings when I can't put my thoughts into words. I know it's all cyclical, I know that soon I'll be writing again, but it never stops me from freaking out in this moment, in my literary dry spells. I did scribble out a bit of writing in my statistics notebook the other day... maybe soon, those words will appear here. 

reading Afternoons & Coffeespoons and feeling inspired.

writing... a thing that I miss. I haven't journaled in months. 

listening to the tap, tap, tap of keyboards in the library. I'm writing this post on Saturday night.

thinking that I really need to get started on my work.

smelling Burberry Brit and peppermint iced coffee.

wishing for peace.

hoping for peace.

wearing a cozy shirt, a warm vest, and a scarf. November is here.

loving my family and friends.

wanting to be inspired, to write, to read, and to listen to music. And to work out consistently.

needing to focus as I round out this semester.

feeling overwhelmed with sadness for Paris. And hoping that one day, the world will see peace.

clicking Afternoons & Coffeespoons. And the wild and wily ways of a brunette bombshell.

What are you doing? Link up and share below.

the sunday currently, volume 114.

CURRENTLY... getting everything done. The last time I did a TSC post like this, was on this day. And, to add insult to injury, this post is going up late. I'm hoping that this next week is a little less stressful and chaotic, which will lead to a carefully and thoughtfully-penned 115th edition of The Sunday Currently. I am happy to see however, that many of you have linked your posts up with last week's edition. I will open up the ability to link up on this post, but feel free to add your links to either one.

Have a great week!

What are you doing? Link up and share below.

the sunday currently, volume 113.

jack o'lanterns from a friday party

Another quick edition today. There is much to be done.

reading school-related materials.
writing lists in my planner.
listening to the television talk about sports.
thinking that Christmas Break will feel great this year.
smelling a large coffee from Buzz.
wishing there were more hours in the day.
hoping I can focus all day today.
wearing pajamas.
loving family and friends.
wanting to drink my coffee and read a book.
needing to go on a run in a couple hours.
feeling overwhelmed.
clicking Google Drive.

What are you doing? Link up and share below.

the sunday currently, volume 112.

starbucks line selfie

the best fall candle

this bat looks like libby

Good morning & happy Sunday! I am excited this morning, because Justin is coming home! He has been away in our hometown since Thursday. One of our friends got married this weekend, and he was one of the groomsmen. I wish I could have been there! I am so glad he's coming back today. I'm tired of holding down the fort alone, and I miss him!

Other than that, today will be a day of studying, running/working out, and finishing up housework. I'm glad I've been productive this week, because it means I was able to get my house back in order and prepare for the school week ahead. 

Also: my apologies - everyone who linked up with last week's edition of The Sunday Currently did not get tweeted last week. I'll be back on schedule with Tuesday Tweets this week! 

On this productivity Sunday, I am currently...

reading power points, chapters in text books, and quiz questions. I have a test Monday morning! It shouldn't be too bad, but I like to be as prepared as possible. I feel pretty comfortable with the material, so we'll see how it goes. Ready to have it out of the way.

writing notes for the test. I bought some legal pads to make a study guide of sorts. Organizing material is one of the most important parts of studying for me. It helps me get even more familiar with the material than if I were to just read it. 

listening to a lot of Houndmouth lately. They have been my jam. You should check them out if you haven't heard them before. I mentioned them in my TSC post from a couple weeks ago. The album I've been listening to is their newest one, Little Neon Limelight.

thinking that I really wish I could have gone into town for the wedding yesterday, but with a test on Monday and the projects we currently have going on, it was best for me to stay put. I miss Shreveport, and I would have loved to see my parents.

smelling the Heritage Pumpkin candle that I got on Friday at Target. Love! This is one of my favorite candle scents ever. Kelsey got it for me as a gift for Christmas one year, and I've been hooked ever since.

wishing for patience, calmness, and motivation this week. Taking one day at a time is the key to not getting overwhelmed, I've found. Everything will get done, I've just got to put in the work and time.

hoping that the rest of this semester goes well. And also, that Thanksgiving this year will be as fun as it was last year!

wearing real clothes during the day, even if I don't have a reason to get dressed up, always makes me feel better. I need to remember that on my slow, lazy, tired mornings.

loving the nail polish Rebekah let me borrow. It's a sparkly reddish-orange - so perfect for October, especially Halloween week! Also loving the Halloween stickers I picked up yesterday at Harris Teeter - can't wait to decorate my new Lilly Pulitzer planner with them a little bit! I'm not a big decorator, but a few little stickers here and there can be fun and festive. Also loving? My new phone. I've been carrying around a phone with a cracked screen since June - it was nice to upgrade. 

wanting coffee, coffee, coffee! Let's get this day started! I'm ready to get things done. Also wanting? To decorate more for Christmas this year. I believe I talked a little bit about the fall decorations that I picked up a couple weeks ago in the dollar store. They are making me so happy! Hoping to continue this newfound nesting routine through the winter. 

needing a visit with my family. I am really missing them lately. I don't want to wait until Christmas!

feeling homesick, as you may have guessed from this week's needing. I also keep feeling little twinges of stress, but I will not let that overwhelm me. I'm keeping my cool, keeping things in perspective, and just doing the very best that I can. 

clicking the entire How Jen Does It playlist lately! I am slowly but surely making my way through all of her videos. Her videos have really been inspiring me to get my house together and stay on my routines. Thanks, Jen!

What are you doing? Link up and share below!