thankful.

Of course this week lends itself to the making of mental lists of things for which we are thankful. My list this year contains all of the usual suspects, including family, health, and safe travels down to Louisiana to celebrate. 

But this year, there's another item on my list. Something I have taken for granted in the past, though I always should have known better. It's something that has largely evaded me in recent months... well, years. It's something I've felt intermittently, sometimes unexpectedly, but haven't acted upon in quite a while. 

What is it? 

Inspiration. Simple, blessed, inspiration. 

I feel it most often when I return to Shreveport, to the Ontario House. Something about this house leads me right into the arms of waiting words. Maybe it's the proximity to so many loved ones. Maybe it's all the work and labors of love that have gone into making this house our family home of so many years. Maybe it's the memories of sitting at the dining room table with a steaming cup of coffee, creating blogging schedules, tapping things out on my beloved white MacBook, scheduling posts for months in advance. 

I don't know exactly what it is, but for reasons I can't adequately explain, I feel immense gratitude, overflowing thanks. 

Happy Thanksgiving to whomever may be out there, reading this. Thank you for being part of this story. 

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.

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. 

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 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.

around here lately.

Hello. Happy two thousand fifteen! It's been quite a while since my last around here lately post, so I thought I would share some images from the last month or so with you all today. It's been a whirlwind holiday season, and I feel nostalgic poring over these particular images. Enjoy!

my family, arriving in raleigh for christmas at RDU

festive decorations in downtown greenville

the road from smithfield to new bern

shopping in raleigh

breakfast at big ed's city market restaurant in raleigh

roaming duke's campus

lounging at the starbucks in chapel hill

our christmas tree stays up until the new year

two thousand fifteen: the year of lipstick and bangs

christmas at the ontario house

drinks at bird cafe in sundance square in fort worth with justin, jesse, & brian

slumber party with austen jane and jordan in frisco

january's book: a moveable feast, by ernest hemingway

a west shreveport sunset

remembering justin's grandma with this north monroe sunset

we started friends from the beginning

lunch at dawg house in ruston with justin's mom

the obligatory travel strawberry cream tea latte while on layover at ATL

Today marks the beginning of spring semester, and with that new beginning, I will also be launching into my new years resolutions/goals for the year. I hope to share them soon! What are your resolutions and goals for this year?

photos via my instagram

a pre-thanksgiving pop-in.

It's really a bit mind-boggling, how busy I've found myself in this first semester of OT school. It's been a wild ride, and I wouldn't trade it for anything (despite my somewhat-constant grumbling as of late - stress'll do that to ya). 

I'm sitting here in my dining room. Tahoe is asleep on the first landing of the stairs, and the blustery rain is continuing its incessant beating outside. The ham was picked up earlier today, and I have an 18-item to-do list immediately to my left, none of which includes school tasks. Our first Thanksgiving guest arrives later this evening. 

It's our first Thanksgiving to host with non-family members in attendance - though we will, thankfully, have one family member in attendance! - & to say that I'm thrilled is an understatement. I love the holidays. I love food. I love friends. I love having people over. But I'm a little bit nervous, too. Cooking for these friends that have so quickly become family is a bit intimidating. I'm not known for my cooking skills, but I'm going to put my best foot forward. And, of course, Justin will be contributing his mad kitchen skills. I just can't wait to make holiday memories with these wonderful, hilarious, sweet, awesome people.

I'm rambling, I know. But it's the only way I know how to talk/write right now. 

I just miss this space. I miss sharing. I miss blogging. 

I plan to take photos tomorrow, which will hopefully be shared in this space in a timely manner. I have plans brewing on the horizon for this blog, and it's my great hope that they come to fruition.

There's so much school work to be done, but I think a couple of days off will do my body and mind some good.

So, I guess that's all for right now. Except for the fact that I'm wearing - and rocking, if I do say so myself - red lipstick today. And later, I'm getting bangs. But I guess those are very small things in relation to everything else. So, I will leave you on that note.

Happy Thanksgiving!

happy birthday, mom!

Enjoy your weekend in Dallas!

I hope you have the best day ever.

the sunday currently, volume 91.

happy father's day!

here's my dad with his first car.

Happy Sunday! And Happy Father's Day! I have been spending my weekend in solitude, since Justin is currently at the U.S. Open! I know he's been having a great time with his dad & brother, & I'm so glad that they will all get to be together on Father's Day. I have been doing a lot of house cleaning, a lot of working out, & a lot of watching YouTube vloggers, Pretty Little Liars, & other such things. While I've enjoyed being able to get things done with no distractions [like watching a million episodes of One Tree Hill with Justin], I am ready for him to come home!

Happy Father's Day to any & all fathers who may be reading this, but a special Happy Father's Day goes out to my very own Dad. I hope that he is having a lovely day, & I definitely hope that he will like his Father's Day gifts! They have been in Shreveport since Wednesday, but he was not allowed to open them until today. I wish I could be in Shreveport with him today, but I suppose FaceTime will have to suffice. 

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

R E A D I N G  Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, as well as An Object of Beauty. This is the first of Steve Martin's novels that I have read, & I have to say, I really like his writing style. I am going to have to pick up some of his other titles to read. I am still not caught up on my Bible-reading, & I feel awful about it. I am making that a priority this week. No excuses. 

W R I T I N G  a novel has been something that I have been thinking very seriously about lately. In fact, while I was walking at Hugh MacRae Park yesterday afternoon, I lighted upon the premise of what I think will be my first novel. As some of you know, I started writing a novel many moons ago, but I have put that one on hold indefinitely. It deals with something I am not sure I want to put "out there," so to speak. Who knows, though? Maybe one day, it will feel right. In the interim, I will be focusing on my new book.

L I S T E N I N G  to my Weezer Pandora station was on point yesterday. I ran a lot during my five miles, & I have the soreness to prove it today.

T H I N K I N G  that there is much, much to get accomplished today. Some items of note? I want to get Justin's car cleaned out so I can take it to get washed tomorrow before his arrival home. Can you think of anything better than coming home to a spotless car? Well, maybe there are some other things that would be better, but I think that's a pretty good thing. Also? I need to de-scale our Keurig & coffee pot so I can start having my morning coffee at home, & so that Justin can begin having his afternoon tea again. He loves Tazo Awake English Breakfast Tea with honey in it. We have some vanilla almond milk on hand, so maybe I will put a dash of that in there & see if he likes it.

S M E L L I N G  our American Boardwalk candle burning in the house in the last week has been heavenly. For some reason, Bath & Body Works always sees to it that my absolute favorite scents are discontinued [I'm looking at you, Sensual Amber & Brown Sugar & Fig], & this particular candle has really gone missing, so I was happy to find a couple medium sized ones in the semi-annual sale this week.

W I S H I N G  I was being more successful with waking up super early. It just hasn't been in the cards for me this week, even though I included it in my first Weekly Wishes post. I've just got to make up my mind, & do it. Once again, no excuses.

H O P I N G  my Dad has the BEST Father's Day! And I also hope that I enjoy my diet-allotment of a biscuit & jelly, as well as Chipotle for dinner, as much as I'm thinking that I will. Also hoping that I continue to lose weight & reach my goal soon. I think I may write a post about the healthy living changes that I've made, as well as my progress, soon.

W E A R I N G  minimal makeup just isn't going to work out for me, I've decided. I just love eye shadow - & blush - WAY too much.

L O V I N G  life. 

W A N T I N G  Justin, Landon, & Craig to have safe travels home tomorrow.

N E E D I N G  to get caught up with Bible-reading, like I said earlier in this post. It really, really needs to happen. And it will.

F E E L I N G  very good lately. I'm so thankful for that. You have no idea. 

C L I C K I N G  a few of my favorite bloggers lately, & trying to get caught up on reading & commenting. It's an unofficial goal of mine to really make more of an effort to connect with everyone, which I've really been falling down on the job of lately. Well, here's to new beginnings!

Well, I'm off to have a very productive Sunday! Once again, Happy Father's Day!

this week's posts:

recent reading

on listening

i choose the light

jackson snapshot

a wilmington weekend

weekly wishes one

TSC, volume 90

Care to link up? Join in below!

/////

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Want to join me in blogging every day in June? The more the merrier. I even made a button to celebrate the occasion. Feel free to use it in your blog sidebar or in the body of your posts. Let's encourage one another to get back to our blogging roots. Happy blogging!

the sunday currently, volume 88.

a trip to our local sno cone stand.

justin got tigers blood + watermelon.

i got praline + cheesecake.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend to you all! Justin & I kicked off the long weekend with sleeping in very late on Saturday & having a movie day. There were sno cones involved, as you may have gathered from the above photos. Our plans for the rest of the weekend include a lot of the same. I also plan to do all of the laundry, wash some dishes, & just generally clean the house up. I may even start packing some of our things. What are you doing this weekend?

C U R R E N T L Y . . .

R E A D I N G  blogs more often lately. I've got major goals to start interacting more with bloggers I admire. I've been such a lurker in the past few months.

W R I T I N G  posting schedules for my blog. I have exciting plans for this space. I finally feel like I'm in the right place to start posting regularly again. It's definitely been a journey getting back to this place mentally. I know that sounds a bit ridiculous. But that's the truth.

L I S T E N I N G  to more mellow tunes in the past week, mainly via Band of Horses radio on Pandora. It's been such a comfort to me this week, especially when on walks at my park & while showering. Thanks, Band of Horses.

T H I N K I N G  that moving is always more stressful than I think it's going to be. The good news: my solo road trip to our new town on Friday resulted in our choosing a place, BUT... since this is a holiday weekend, I'll have to wait until Tuesday to set things in motion. We won't be moving until the end of July, either, so we have to make sure they are willing to work with us in that respect, too. 

S M E L L I N G  like French Lavender & Honey constantly, again this week. it is hands down my favorite right now, & perfect for late Spring.

W I S H I N G  houses cleaned themselves, coffee appeared on my bedside table every morning at 6:15, & a whole host of other things. None of them pressing, however. 

H O P I N G  I can continue making strides in managing my stress, though I still have to let myself freak out a bit [internally], take some time to think & reflect, & then decide to let it go & that things will work out. I'm doing a lot better. Tell me, please: how do you manage stress in a healthy way?

W E A R I N G  my hair straight a lot lately. I'm missing the curls, but it's more difficult with my current hairstyle. I've decided to grow it out a bit & try this same style. We'll see. 

L O V I N G  writing, my husband, phone calls, my composition books, my hair color, to-do lists, scheduling, walks at the park, wearing my FitBit again, iced coffee... I could go on...

W A N T I N G  my official school schedule. I'm ready to start drafting up potential routines. Yes, it is all quite as nerdy as it sounds. And I love it.

N E E D I N G  a new favorite daily shower gel. Any suggestions? I'm almost out of my Amber Blush one from Bath & Body Works. I've decided to change things up a bit & use a more neutral-scented shower gel & lotion & let my body sprays & perfumes take center stage. [I'm really on a roll with neediness lately, if you couldn't tell]. I'm looking for a moisturizing shower gel, as well as an exfoliating shower gel. I think I've decided on my new everyday body lotion.

F E E L I N G  much better than I did earlier this week. I was really under the weather with stress & anxiety the first few days, but I've taken conscious steps to alleviate those feelings, with noticeable success. Staying on top of things & living with intention really helps. So does working out.

C L I C K I N G  this post about Joelle's coffee station, which makes me happy. Also, all of Anna's San Francisco posts, which have me jonesing for another trip out west. I haven't been to California since I visited one of my best friends at USC in 2007. Maybe it's time to start planning another trip?

this week's posts:

the sunday currently, volume 87.

songs from wilmington: let's be happy.

I'll see you back here in this space a couple of times this week, but come next Sunday, things will be a lot more consistent, as you will see. Cheers to that, am I right? I hope you all have a lovely week. Here's to stress-free, happy, late-Spring days!

Care to link up? Join in below!

someone is graduating college.

And just like that, we're off to Jackson.

And just like that, my little sister is graduating college.

By the time this post goes live, we will have landed in Jackson, and we will be reveling in all the graduating-from-college glory that this long weekend holds in store. I still remember the weekend - my birthday weekend - that we dropped Kara off at her dorm on Millsaps campus. I still remember taking a zillion pictures, and the way that Kara acted annoyed, but I knew she really was thankful that she had a crazy older sister, snapping photos here, snapping photos there, commemorating the moment. And next week, you'll get to see one of those photos, because during this graduation weekend, I plan to recreate my favorite photo from that move-in weekend. And then they'll be juxtaposed, and then there will be a blog post about it, and then I'll once again be stifling tears as I realize how very grown up my younger sibling is. 

This weekend is a weekend for pride and for tears and for happiness and for cheering.

And we will do that with all of our hearts.

/////

Happy Graduation Weekend, Kara!

Follow along here, or stalk #siddastravellog.

Photo / Us at Geoff's Wedding / Sowell Archives

around here lately.

Ever since Spring has officially sprung here in Wilmington, we find ourselves getting out around town so much more. The warm weather sees us eating alongside the Cape Fear River frequently, & I have even made my way out to the beach once already, with high hopes of many return visits. The town is coming back to life after the coldest & longest Winter I can even remember. It is a joyful, joyful thing, Spring-time.

a smiling beach selfie | trying Bon Appetit for the first time | Justin's Easter picture

i finally got my hair cut again - here is a before & an after. all i have to say is, #wifehair

wisteria in bloom | the beautiful green fields of East Carolina

first culinary experience at The Scullery yielded my first latte art | justin indulged in simple coffee

after Church on Easter Sunday, we had brunch at Dixie Grill, a downtown favorite of ours

lunch on Carolina Beach with R at Tiki Bar | sunset dinner with Justin at Delphina Dos | new glasses!

As you can see, a lot of eating has been done, and a lot of photos have been taken! I've been trying to pull out both my phone and my DSLR more regularly, as I've slacked a bit in the documenting-the-moment category. I've been enjoying getting back into it, though, so expect to see some more Around Here Lately posts in the near future!

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Photos / Assorted Memories / Instagram