the sunday currently, volume 125.

reading a mish-mash of things right now. I don't usually like to read more than one book at a time, but I am in a reading rut... and I'm really just trying to get a little reading done here and there before I'm back in the swing of regularly reading. Selections currently include the following: Slightly South of Simple, by Kristy Woodson Harvey, Atomic Habits, by James Clear, Me, by Elton John, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling, and A Simplified Life, by Emily Ley. I know. That is a ridiculous amount of books to claim to be reading. I don't like it any more than you do. Like I said, I'm ready for the reading bug to bite me again. 

writing futile to-do lists in my planner, in my head, and in my phone. Much like my current ridiculous reading list, my writing has been scattered, distracted, and frankly, ineffective. I need to get some organization and simplification going. I'm really just spinning my wheels at this point. 

listening to my February 2020 playlist on Spotify. The boys and I often listen to the same few songs around the house, and we have slowly built up a good collection. I added some other familiar favorites, mixed in with some new (to me) songs from familiar artists, and I like to think I have a nice little mix going. 

thinking that baby/child sleep in one of the most difficult parenting things for me. Planning to get my guys back on a better schedule in the coming week. Thank goodness for Taking Cara Babies - her advice has really helped me! 

smelling like Warm Vanilla Sugar lately, and I love it. After a holiday season filled with Twisted Peppermint, it's nice to return to something a little more subdued. 

wishing I didn't have to make such a conscious effort to drink water each day. If only coffee counted as water, I would be one well-hydrated person. 

hoping I can get myself together and have a pleasantly productive week ahead. I need a week of productivity for my personal well-being, as well as for crossing some long-awaited items off of my to-do list. Plus, my house needs some attention. I can do this. And I will feel so much better if I get my house (and life) in order. Dramatic, I know. 

wearing workout clothes. After I tap out this blog post, I'm going to do a HIIT workout. I've been doing workout videos on YouTube, which I love. Justin and I are also talking about joining the YMCA near our house again, which I am really excited about. They have Body Pump classes, as well as some other classes I haven't yet tried. The truth is, I really love going to the gym and look forward to getting back into it soon. 

loving my life, despite my productivity dry spell this week. I have a lot to be thankful for, and that it not lost on me. Being able to be home with my boys from day to day is a huge blessing and opportunity. I have greatly enjoyed this uninterrupted time with them since Grayson was born. 

wanting another cup of coffee. I won't tell you how many I've had already. It's really just been that kind of week, where I could never drink enough coffee. Unfortunately, my energy to coffee ratio seems to be deficient this week, for some reason, and that is a sad state of affairs indeed. 

needing... well, isn't it obvious? More coffee and more productivity. Can someone send either of these things my way? Thanks a lot. 'Preciate ya. 

feeling proud of myself for one thing I have been succeeding at - I have worked out every day of February so far. My main personal goal for February is to work out every day, even if it's just a little bit, and I already feel a lot better. I need to work on further cleaning up my diet (though I have been cooking a LOT more, which I am also proud of), but I feel like I'm off to a good start with getting more active. 

the sunday currently, volume 124.

beautiful flowers all around vail

reading Fierce, by Aly Raisman. A couple of weeks ago, I finally finished Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, which I really enjoyed.
writing a lot in my bullet journal, including adding photos and keepsakes. It's been a while since I've done this kind of journaling, and it really is my favorite.
listening to the Office while typing out this blog post. Nothing makes me feel better like this show does.
thinking that I am really glad that Justin and I built in some trip recovery time on the back end of our trek to Colorado. It really does take some time to get re-acclimated to the time zone you've returned to. We've both been feeling so tired since we got back.
smelling coffee and donuts. The breakfast of champions.
wishing for some tortilla soup today. I had some at a place called Hacienda Colorado in Denver. It was so good, and I've been craving it ever since.
hoping for a productive and joyful week ahead.
wearing pajamas, just like I have been doing since we arrived home from Colorado.
loving the flowers we got to enjoy all around Vail (see photo above).
wanting tortilla soup. I'm telling you, I can't stop thinking about it.
needing a shower and a fresh perspective.
feeling sad for a dear friend and praying for healing and comfort for her and her family.

See all volumes of The Sunday Currently here.

What little pieces are making up the normal in your life today? Link up & share below. 

the sunday currently, volume 123.

reading nothing at the moment. A little under a year ago, I started reading Big Little Lies, following watching - and loving - the show. I need to pick my iPad back up and re-start, and finish this book.
writing daily pages in my pocket traveler's notebook from Chic Sparrow. I have the pocket Maverick, and I love it. Other things I write in my TN? Blog post drafts! I've also been writing in my new bullet journal - my second one ever. I finished my first one a couple of months ago, and dropped the practice for a little while. I'm so glad I picked it back up - I really believe it's the best planner/journaling/memory keeping system for me. My first bullet journal was a large, black, squared Moleskine. My second one is a blue, dotted Artists' Loft notebook from Michael's. I'm hoping to try the Leuchtturm 1917 next.
listening to a playlist that I made in anticipation of my 30th birthday. The songs remind me of the wait for Luke to arrive, wondering if we were going to share a birthday. Little did I know, I'd have to wait until September to meet the little guy.
thinking that Luke and I are ready for Justin to get home. He has been in Austin since Thursday, so Luke and I have been holding down the fort since then. We've enjoyed our Mama-Luke time, but we're definitely ready to be a household of three again.
smelling like Sensual Amber from Bath and Body Works, a year-round favorite, despite its silly name.
wishing for an end to the violence that's been going on in our country. That's all I'm going to say on the matter.
hoping for a productive week. Luke and I need to get some stuff done around the house, run some errands, and I am beginning a 10-day health and fitness challenge tomorrow. Time to get in shape!
wearing one of my favorite necklaces lately. It's a gold bar from Stella & Dot, and it has the coordinates of the hospital where Luke was born etched into it. It was a gift from Justin when Luke was born.
loving being back in the blogosphere. There's nothing quite like it. I've missed it. And I'm loving starting again with The Sunday Currently!
wanting to eat sushi every single day. Hibachi is a close second.
needing to clean out my email accounts.
feeling ready to get in shape. And thankful. And hopeful.

See all volumes of The Sunday Currently here.

What little pieces are making up the normal in your life today? Link up & share below.

the sunday currently, volume 122: wednesday edition.

Good morning from the C residence, and happy Wednesday! Obviously, I have missed posting editions of The Sunday Currently for the past couple of weeks, so I thought I would go ahead and post one on Wednesday, rather than wait until Sunday again. Make sense? Good. 

reading Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty. Actually, I haven't been reading it, because my iPad is not upstairs by my bed. I need to find where it is and put it back, because I miss reading. I really, really miss reading Shannon Miller's book, so much so, that I may re-read it after I finish the current book. 

writing in my large, black, squared Moleskine, and loving every minute of it. Also writing in? My Filofax. I realized how much I missed that beloved planner, so I ordered some inserts, and it is back in commission. 

listening to Luke's singing cow. It has long been a tradition that he visits with his singing cow during morning swings. Also listening to Glide videos. 

thinking that I can't wait for OPI's Cajun Shrimp to arrive in the mail tomorrow. I've never owned that color, and I am so excited that I finally will, as I have always wanted it, since around 2010. 

smelling freshly brewed coffee. I'm drinking it right now, too. 

wishing that I was a more innately productive person. And that I was good at prioritizing. And that I was a good cook. 

hoping for a productive day. 

wearing pajama pants and a baggy black shirt. Soon, I'll be putting on workout clothes so that Luke and I can go for a walk. 

loving getting to spend so much time with my son. It is hard to be productive with a baby, yes, but I cherish these days spent getting to know him and watching him learn. 

wanting coffee, coffee, and more coffee today. Oh, the constant I'm-tired parent struggle. It's real. 

needing to drink lots of water, in edition to that coffee. My newly-instituted habit tracker in the above-mentioned Moleskine has revealed that I absolutely suck at drinking water. As if I didn't already know that. I think that I will drink water instead of absolutely anything else (except for coffee) over the next few days. That should help, right? Or just dehydrate me. Lauren, you can do this. Just drink water. Just do it. It's not difficult. 

feeling sore. I have worked out every day of May so far. But also inspired. And ready to make this a good day. 

siddathornton through the years:

2012, 2012 | 2013

See all volumes of The Sunday Currently here.

What little pieces are making up the normal in your life today? Link up & share below! 

the sunday currently, volume 121.

rainy day last week 

Good morning & happy Sunday, everyone! Welcome to the reinstatement of The Sunday Currently! I've recently had a bit of a revelation where blogging is concerned, & I am so happy to be back here with you, sharing the normal details of my Sundays. Back in grad school, & right after having my son, I felt like I was too busy to pen one of these posts each week. That makes me very sad, because I feel as if these posts are a kind of living time capsule. When I go back & read past TSC posts, I respond in one of two ways, usually: 

1. Ohhhh, I remember that.

2. Cool! I don't remember doing that. 

While I greatly enjoy the experience of the former, it is the latter that inspires me to write these posts and keep up with this practice. The capturing of small memories that may have been lost, the window into a moment in time... that is the impetus for these posts & the reason I have decided to bring them back. I can make time for this, and I will. 

Currently...

reading It's Not About Perfect, by Shannon Miller. So far this year, I have read Talking As Fast As I Can, by Lauren Graham; Scrappy Little Nobody, by Anna Kendrick; Letters to a Young Gymnast, by Nadia Comaneci; Off Balance, by Dominique Moceanu; and Little Girls in Pretty Boxes, by Joan Ryan. I am planning to read Big Little Lies, by Liane Moriarty, after I finish Shannon Miller's book, since I enjoyed the television show so much (and I am now making Justin watch it with me!).

writing lots of to-do lists on the magnetic notepad I bought a couple days ago at Marshall's. I have lots of stray, random items that need to be accomplished, & it is already helping to corral all of them so that I can remain focused and actually productive. 

listening to "Selling The Drama," by Live, was a good idea this morning. I listened to the Throwing Copper album a lot at the end of junior year of high school, so, to me, this song & many others sound like new beginnings. 

thinking that this stage of motherhood is pretty sweet. I have a post coming soon about Luke's birth story, & after that, I'll be sharing a post called life after birth. I have decided I want to share my story, even though I hesitated for a long while. More on that coming soon. 

smelling a freshly-bathed baby is the best thing! Luke takes a bath every other night, & it is one of my favorite things!

wishing I had kept up with the practice of writing TSC posts through the last couple of years, as I mentioned in the introduction of this post. The only thing there is to do, is to keep up the practice now, so that's what I'm going to do. 

hoping for a great week ahead. Justin is off, so I am looking forward to us spending time as a family of three! We are hoping to put some stuff up in the play room so that Luke can practice pulling up, which he is already starting to do!

wearing the Patagonia fleece that my parents got me for Christmas. Like, all the time. I love it. It's one of my greatest comforts at the moment. 

loving the way that Luke's personality is developing. He is such a sweet baby, and curious, and stubborn, and talkative! 

wanting more coffee. And I've already had two cups. It is Starbucks Sunday, after all, so I will probably indulge once we get out after Luke's second nap. 

needing to drink a ton of water this week. Luckily, I joined a 21 day fitness challenge, and drinking at least 64 ounces of water per day is one of this week's assignments. I'm very much looking forward to not only this individual part of the challenge, but getting back into a healthy lifestyle over all. 

feeling content & inspired. And happy to have written this TSC post today!

siddathornton through the years:

2014

See all volumes of The Sunday Currently here.

What little pieces are making up the normal in your life today? Link up & share below! 

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.

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.

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!

the sunday currently, volume 111.

flowers from our chapel hill airbnb

This morning I'm popping in for a quick edition of The Sunday Currently. I have a lot of school work  to do today, and I need to get started soon!

reading statistics notes, out of a book for my therapeutic use class, and lots of other things today I'm sure.

writing in my new agenda when it comes this week. I couldn't be more excited. 

listening to ESPN. It's football season!

thinking that I'm going to start parting my hair on the other side again. Just feels like it's time to change that up again.

smelling the cheesy biscuit that is my breakfast. Delicious. Oh, and I still have some coffee left to enjoy as well.

wishing I would have had more time in Chapel Hill this past week to explore some of the restaurants and shops that D suggested to me.

hoping I get a lot of work done today. 

wearing a warm, colorful scarf today. It's cold!

loving that my schedule is getting somewhat back to normal this week.

wanting a huge glass of water.

needing to get into the groove.

feeling motivated and calm. And happy to be back home after a week in Chapel Hill.

clicking nothing. It's school work time.

siddathornton through the years:

2011

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the sunday currently, volume 110.

morning fog from earlier this week

Good morning & happy Sunday! Hopefully by the time you are reading this blog post, I will have already gotten out of bed, gone on a run, and eaten breakfast. Later today, I am off to Chapel Hill, and there is much to do before then! 

On this travel day Sunday, I am currently...

reading lots of emails. For the longest time, I didn't think I was getting any comments through the write me gadget you see on the right hand side of this blog. I was wrong, though. They were coming in through the "social" tab on my gmail, which I never really think to check. Thank you all for your messages about The Sunday Currently! I am sorry it took me a while to respond to your questions and comments, but I am so happy that you took the time to write. Please, never hesitate to contact me.

writing assignments and other such documents. I really miss journaling, but unfortunately I haven't made much time to do that recently. Maybe in the coming weeks I will shift my focus back to it. I am happy, though, that I've been making time to write on this blog. The renewal of this space has brought me such comfort and joy, and I'm so excited to continue blogging through the holiday season, one of my favorite times to share.

listening to alt nation. I switch back and forth between what my "main" radio station is at any given moment, but lately this one has taken the cake. I'm really enjoying the stuff they've been playing lately. 

thinking that it's so important to keep stress in check. I got really stressed out last week, and I don't like that. I need to keep perspective and just keep pushing through my tasks. Everything is going to turn out fine - I just have to keep a positive attitude and remember to take time out to breathe and reflect.

smelling the wonderful new brown sugar candle I got while fall decoration shopping this past Thursday. I popped into Dollar Tree right around the corner from school during a break, and got in a quick, fun, 12-dollar shopping spree. I believe in retail therapy.

wishing that I would have gotten up early enough to go running yesterday. I guess I needed to sleep in. I'm excited, though, that we went to AT&T yesterday, because we ordered our new phones! I dropped and cracked the screen of my phone back in June, and I decided to wait for our upgrade to replace it. I'm so excited that our brand new phones are on their way to us and that we will have them soon!

hoping for a week filled with learning! I'll share more later, but I am excited. Also hoping that I get plenty of sleep this week. I haven't been going to bed very early lately, and I need to fix that. Sleep is so important to your overall health - much more than I ever realized. 

wearing khakis, polos, and tennis shoes all week. A uniform of sorts. 

loving that Justin and I had an early third anniversary dinner over at On The Square in historic downtown Tarboro Friday night. We had such a great time celebrating! I'll be sharing more about our anniversary date night later this week.

wanting to keep the productivity running high this week, and beyond. Lately, I've been watching a lot of How Jen Does It on Youtube. She is so inspiring! I've already learned a lot from her, and I plan to create some routines based on the tips that she has shared in her videos. If you're looking for inspiration on organization, routine, cooking, and home-making in general, I highly recommend her channel!

needing to take time to relax this week, even though I want to tackle all of my to-dos with energy, creativity, and passion. Much like sleep, being kind to ourselves is extremely important. Sometimes, I am too hard on myself. Carrying on in that fashion does nothing good for me or my productivity. I need to remember that now, and for the rest of this busy semester!

feeling content. I am so happy to be where I am in life right now, even though I have been getting stressed. I have so much to be thankful for: a supportive husband and family and friends, a comfortable home, being part of a program that is intellectually stimulating and part of a field that I believe is doing so much good in this world, and so much more. I am thankful.

clicking through all the videos on How Jen Does It's Youtube channel. Also, of course, Pretty Neat Living. They are my current favorites! Do you have any blog suggestions for me to check out? I have fallen off the map a bit with blog-reading, I'm sad to say. I do apologize that I haven't been commenting on all of your TSC links. I'm hoping to get into a better routine with that soon. 

Happy Sunday! Here's to a week full of learning and new, wonderful experiences. 

--

siddathornton through the years:

2012 | 2011

What are you doing? Link up and share below!

the sunday currently, volume 109.

a photo of the ontario house from january

because i am missing the ontario house right now

Good morning! It's been a relatively productive weekend over here at the C Residence, and for me, that means that a lot of statistics studying has happened (with more to come later today). This week will be a busy one, but I'm ready for it! I'm just taking one day at a time, and little by little, the semester is going right on by. Here's to a productive week!

On this school work Sunday, I am currently...

reading formulas, word problems, and study guides (oh my?) for my statistics test that's coming up this week. It feels good to be tackling it little by little, and not getting too discouraged. It helps a lot to have classmates to bounce ideas off of. I still haven't finished reading Go Set A Watchman, but this week, I was thinking about re-instating reading before bed - a book, that is. Lately, I read Reddit every night before bed, but maybe even switching between reading a book and reading Reddit every other night would be better. I miss reading books. I have the time to read a little bit every night, but I've become completely addicted to perusing the Ask Reddit threads, & it's a hard habit to break. I think a compromise is the best answer in this scenario. 

writing a huge answer to reading, apparently. Get a load of that thing! 

listening to football games. It's so calming and grounding for me. It actually reminds me of spending the night at my grandparents' house. We would take baths before bed, and when we still had that glorious post-bath, squeaky-clean feeling, we would lay on the couch and fall asleep to whistles blown and crowds yelling. That has to be one of my favorite, most simple childhood memories.

thinking about the fleeting quality of this life we are living. I try not to think too hard on this too often, because it certainly is heavy, but it also makes me cherish life more. I am thankful.

smelling not much of anything. In addition to some pretty wicked allergies this year, I've also fallen sick over the last week, like a large proportion (ha - there's the statistics talking) of my classmates. With Hurricane Joaquin, the weather has been weird, bringing on sickness and lethargy. BUT I am feeling much better today, thanks to medicine, hydration, and rest. I'm on the mend, I think.

wishing I had a little more time (and motivation) to decorate my house for Halloween. I love Halloween and the decorations that go along with it. Maybe next year?

hoping I can keep my cool this week and not feel too stressed out. That is something I'm always working on - managing my stress levels. I have to say - I've improved a lot since last year, but there is definitely still room to get better. And, by the way, I think blogging helps me in that regard, by keeping everything in perspective. 

wearing boots! With the crazy weather and slightly cooler temperatures, I've felt justified in donning one of my very favorite fall fashion staples. There's nothing more cozy than wearing boots, jeans, and a pullover sweater. It makes everything that much better!

loving all of the people I've met on this OT school journey thus far. I'm glad we still have some time left together in our program, because they truly are good people that I am honored to know.

wanting to focus on enjoying school this week. It's all about the journey, right?

needing to drink more water this week. I would love to see some statistics on how many times in TSC's history that I have answered this question in this way.

feeling happy. Thankful. Comfortable. Cozy. Calm. Collected. Grateful. Warm.

clicking nothing lately. Hoping to read some blogs later this week!

Happy, happy Sunday! I wish you all a relaxing, productive, rewarding week ahead. 

--

siddathornton through the years:

2012* | 2011

*one of my favorite posts

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the sunday currently, volume 108.

fall leaves on a gloomy saturday in greenville

Good morning! Today, we are hoping for the accomplishment of a few things: grocery shopping, finishing up some chores around the house, and running a 5k! Though it's been raining all weekend, we are excited to get out and participate. 

On this race-day Sunday, I am currently...

reading for school later on today. I'm determined to get caught up and stay caught up this week. All it's going to take is a little motivation, a lot of discipline, and virtually no procrastination. I can do this.

writing lots of blog posts lately. Did you notice? I wrote one on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday of this last week. As I tweeted last week, blogging makes me feel like myself again. I can't tell you how good it feels to be back. I think last year I was so consumed with starting school and getting my bearings, I found it hard to make time for writing and blogging. Luckily, I feel a little more settled in this fall, so I am able to take a little more time for the normal, everyday things that I love.

listening to my Fall 2015 playlist, as well as Houndmouth's new album, Little Neon Limelight. My playlist has lots of old familiar favorites on it, with an infusion of a few new things, which I've found is my usual playlist-making style. The Houndmouth album is that kind of haunting southern-ish rock that I have really been drawn to during this season. By the way, I'm not a music writer, and I've never claimed to be. Take my descriptions with a touch of forgiveness. 

thinking about everything that needs to get done this week. There's a lot, but it's all do-able. So do it I will. I've spent a lot of this semester worrying that I'm not getting enough done from day to day, which has resulted in the return of stress dreams. It's time to take a step back, be productive, and remind myself that I'm doing the best I can.

smelling the pumpkin candle I've been burning lately has been such a treat. It feels good to be deep in the throes of the fall season, doesn't it? The weather this weekend has been a bit gloomy, yes, but it has afforded that perfect fall backdrop to all of the goings-on. 

wishing for an effortlessly productive nature. 

hoping to watch more episodes of Gotham this week.

wearing gray nail polish, tons of scarves, relaxed fit jeans, and t-shirts. And hoping to add my first-ever pair of converse to this equation soon. Should I get black or navy? Or gray? Help me out.

loving crossing things off of my to-do list lately. And loving my Filofax to house all of those lists. I do think I will be going with the Erin Condren Life Planner for 2016, but I'll be enjoying my day-per-page planning until then.

wanting endless cups of hot coffee and lattes lately, with the rainy, windy weather. There's no better combination. Also, coffee cake. cinnamon swirl coffee cake, to be exact.

needing a trip home. I can't even express the extent of my homesickness lately. Watching LSU football yesterday struck a particular nerve, leaving me yearning for my hometown, for Baton Rouge, for New Orleans, for Dallas, and for all the people contained within those places.

feeling, well, homesick, as I just described to you in needing. But also feeling a little under the weather, a little worse for wear, a little disillusioned, burned-out, and heavy with emotion. I know that this will get better. Especially if I stick to positivity and productivity for the week to come. 

clicking my DSLR lately. With the rebirth of blogging, naturally the rebirth of taking photos was to follow. I feel such joy over these recent developments. I am giddy with comfort and joy.

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope that you are having a great weekend.

--
siddathornton through the years:
2012 | 2011

What are you doing? Link up and share below.

the sunday currently, volume 107.

breakfast post-race at the scullery with rebekah

Good Sunday morning to ya! Today I have quite a lot to check off on my to-do list, and I am feeling ready to get all of that accomplished! Also, later on I get to pick Justin up from the airport! I can't wait! I have had a great weekend full of homemade curry, spending the night with a friend, and running in a 5k. I'm hoping to carry over this joy into the week, working hard on school and checking everything off my future to-do lists. Here we go!

On this Sunday, I am currently...

reading for school this week. I'm really trying to get back on track with everything and get into a better study schedule. 

writing a lot in my planner lately. It's making me feel a lot better. I feel like I go through phases with my planner, and I'm really happy to be in an "on" one right now.

listening to my Fall 2015 playlist, which I talked about in my TSC post from two weeks ago and will be posting here on siddathornton this Wednesday, since it is the Fall Equinox, and we will finally be officially in the Autumn season!

thinking that I am ready for Justin to get home! He has been in Kansas on a golf tournament since this past Wednesday, and I'm tired of holding down the fort over here. I can't wait to see him!

smelling like Brown Sugar and Fig from Bath and Body Works and Burberry Brit lately has made me so very happy. I'm so glad that I discovered that my favorite scent was back on B&BWorks' website, and that my parents got me a wonderful Burberry Brit gift set for my birthday. Yay for signature scents!

wishing I was better at adulting. I hate staying home by myself while Justin is out of town. Luckily, I have some wonderful friends who have let me sleep over at their houses in the past few days. 

hoping I will have a productive school work week ahead. 

wearing the gel manicure that I got two weeks and one day ago... still. That is a pretty amazing fact, if you ask me. I can't believe it has lasted this long. I must be honest - I am getting a little tired of the color. I might remove it sometime this week and paint them a different color. Maybe grey? Maybe red? We'll see.

loving the fact that I changed my social media handles back to siddathornton - they were lrschristy for a while there. I know it's a bit confusing to change things like this, but lately I've realized just how special the siddathornton name is to me. It feels like a comfortable thing to come back to.

wanting to do quite a few things today: work on statistics at Coffee Shack with Danielle, dye my hair, do a little grocery shopping, and look into transferring my blog over to Word Press, as well as look into purchasing a dot com. And then, of course, pick Justin up from the airport! Busy day ahead! And I love it.

needing to run 3 miles a couple of times this week. I ran the Vidant Run, Walk, and Roll yesterday, and I am so happy. I ran the whole time, albeit quite slow, and it was very inspiring to me. I plan to keep the pace up and hopefully beat my time - 37:16 - at the 5k that Justin & I [and some of my classmates] are doing this coming up Saturday. 

feeling great. I've been working out a lot lately, and it has been a really good change for me. Now, I just need to get my eating in order. Healthy habits! Something I always have to work toward.

clicking Blackboard, my ECU email account, and other such things this week. Here's to school work!

I hope you're having a wonderful weekend! Here's to safe travels for Justin today, as well as anyone else on the road or in the air.

--
siddathornton through the years:
2012

What are you doing? Link up and share below.

the sunday currently, volume 106.

from where i sit

Good morning afternoon! Today I am coming to you from one of my favorite places in Greenville/Winterville - The Coffee Shack - because I've been working with a couple of my friends on statistics this morning. Now, I am no longer working on statistics, but eating a piece of cake and writing a blog post. 

On this Coffee Shack Sunday, I am currently... 

reading nothing. This needs to change. I still haven't finished reading Go Set a Watchman. I just need to make time for it this week. I still haven't made a schedule. I need to just do it. 

writing blog post fragments in my phone lately. I've been having some "moments," since this is the second to last classroom-based semester that I'll have with my classmates, who have become like family. I'm not really allowing myself to think to hard on the fact that the rest of our classroom time together is going to go so fast. 

listening to the songs they're playing in here. Sometimes the music selections make me feel overly emotional. And when they play Christmas music, sometimes I cry. Or, it did last year at least.

thinking that a large piece of cake is always a good idea. Especially since Justin and I are going to go on a run when I get home.

smelling the delicious smell of coffee and baked goods. Environments like this are always the best for getting things done. It's such a comforting atmosphere to me.

wishing I had gotten up earlier today. I'm going to be working on that all week. I will get it right!

hoping to get a lot done once I go home today, as well as this week. I may make a list of everything I want to accomplish this week, later today.

wearing my Jackson Hole shirt and missing Wyoming so much. I want to go back.

loving my friends. I never expected to meet such wonderful people in school, but I did.

wanting a good run today, and a clean house to show by the end of the day.

needing to clean up my diet this week. I have a plan formulated to ween myself off of the ridiculous amount of sweets I've been eating. I've been in a good workout routine, so I need to stop sabotaging that with endless sweets and indulgent meals.

feeling content and productive.

clicking the Sunday Secrets. And I just emailed them to Danielle so she can click on them too.

Well, now I'm off to go for a run and clean up the rest of my house. Here's to productivity! And, also, here's to the wonderful, fall-tastic chill in the air this morning!

What are you doing? Link up and share below.