charleston in october.

Are you tired of hearing about Charleston in this space yet? Well, worry not, because this will be the last post on the Holy City for awhile [you know, until our next visit]. 

When we rose early on Sunday morning, I went down to the hotel lobby for tea & honey. As I sipped, I hustled & bustled to get ready. And when we finally set foot on the streets of downtown Charleston, it was like a collective sigh was let loose: the buildings seemed to relax into themselves, the streets breathed easily. And we knew where we were headed: toward a creaky front porch covered with mums & pumpkins, toward Southern comfort food at its best, toward brunch. And as we left with full bellies, we decided to traverse a bit of the land laid before us. It was still early, so the stray twinkle lights here & there glowed from within & exuded that extreme comfort that they're sometimes known for. Shops & libraries still lay dormant, waiting for the hour to strike which brought with it the flow of customers. But it wasn't that hour yet, so they lay still, waiting & watching. Certain antique wares beckoned to us from the windows, while the theater tiles were changed out at the Riviera. We stopped to greet a dog who was collecting a crowd - he was 250 pounds, according to his owner - & he flopped onto his back, begging for a belly rub. And on the way back to the car, we saw Second Sunday going up all around us: tables brought out from restaurants & placed on the street, tents going up with knick knacks for the taking, a book sale on the lawn of the library, & the crowds beginning to converge. We watched sleepy King Street turn into bustling, crowded King Street. And we soaked up every minute of that last bit of sleepiness before the waking.

Want to see more photos? They're all over here.

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photos: scenes from Charleston | taken October 13, 2013 | complete set here

around here lately: a glimpse at our first anniversary.

On Sunday, we celebrated our first wedding anniversary! We woke up in Charleston, had brunch at Poogan's Porch [definitely our favorite place we've thus far discovered in the Holy City], & ate thawed-out, year-old wedding cake. Here are some snaps to prove it.

saturday, october 12 was a beautiful day for a roadtrip

sidewalk art spotted in downtown charleston

an 'oink' adorned wall at jim & nick's BBQ, where we had lunch

a saturday afternoon spent at parson jack's, where there was money on the ceiling

[we watched the LSU-Florida game, & LSU won]

sunday morning anniversary brunch on the porch at our favorite, poogan's porch

we didn't take many pictures, but here's what we looked like on october 13, 2013

when we arrived home, we feasted on defrosted, year-old wedding cake

I think the first year is a big milestone as far as anniversaries go. True, Justin & I have been together for a lot longer than one year, but this was our first married year. And that made all of the difference. 

Here's to many, many more.

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photos: taken during anniversary weekend | find them on instagram

how to get out of a rut.

Last week, I wrote a little something over on Sidda Writes about being in a rut. Since then, I've managed to start digging myself out of it. Here's how.

1. I changed my to-do list format. Stop writing the same lists over & over, like I was doing. It doesn't make you want to do the tasks any more the next day, if they are presented to you in the exact same way. It just doesn't. Trust me.

2. I made a brand new playlist. And on it, I put songs that relax me in some way. I reached back into the early nineties to grab those songs that always make me feel safe [namely, anything by Matchbox Twenty]. I kept up with the Joneses & put some of the hip stuff I listen to on alt nation on there. I added John Mayer, because his voice reminds me of the safety of my freshman year dorm room bed, which looked out over the residence hall courtyard. I added all of the things like that. And, I tell you what, when listening to that playlist, I feel like I can do anything. And it helps. A lot.

3. I gave myself the day off. And it was challenging. When I feel myself slipping into a rut, or when I've been in a rut for a long time, & I've just then realized it, I'm always eager to jump out immediately. I keep plugging away, trying to force myself to get results. Sometimes it works, in a nose-to-the-grindstone, never-let-up way, but usually it just frustrates me. I've found that sometimes all you need is a day to relax - to stop hating on yourself - to feel more in the mood to try again the next day.

4. I pressed the reset button. Similar to number three, this one allowed me to forgive myself for making no progress in the past, & to move on from that feeling. Being too hard on yourself may work for a little while, but everyone has a breaking point. Press reset & allow yourself to feel new again.

5. I got excited about my tasks. I know. This may be easier said than done. Obviously everyone wishes to be excited about their to-do lists, because then, getting everything done would be fun. I find that I am so much happier when I'm 100% behind the things I have to do. That isn't always the case, & when it's not, I rarely do anything. I've found that if i simply try to think about my tasks from a different angle, I'm able to remember why they're on my list in the first place.

6. I started a new workout routine. You know that old adage that says something about how if you keep doing the same thing, you'll keep getting the same results? Well, that's what was happening with my workout. So, I started the Blogilates program. I've done a video here & there before, but this time, I signed up for the newsletter & gained access to the beginners' daily workout calendar. I'm loving it so far, & in conjunction with my pre-existing cardio routine, I think I'll begin to see some results soon. And if that's not enough motivation to push you out of a rut, I don't know what is.

7. I rewarded myself. Yes, it was just hot chocolate & an everything bagel in between two of my Thursday classes on a cold, misty day, but it was a hot chocolate & an everything bagel well-spent.

8. I shared the journey. I texted my friend, asking why I was sucking so much as a person. Haha, I know, harsh. But sometimes, a reassuring word from a loved one will go far to put you back on the right path. It always helps me, that's for sure. And, more than likely, as your friend spills to you, you'll realize you're not alone. Everyone has bad days... everyone catches an occasional case of the Mondays. But knowing we're all in this thing together can prove to be extremely comforting.

I thought Monday was the best day to share something like this, as Mondays tend to have that stigma of being a horrible, no good, very bad day. I understand this, trust me. But Mondays are also good for new beginnings. And I think that's what I'll be focusing on today.

What do you do when you find yourself in a rut? Do you wallow for a while, like me, or do you snap into action immediately? Do share your tips & tricks below. I need all the help I can get in this respect!

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photo: inside my planner | taken Sunday night | find other photos on instagram

the sunday currently, advance edition: it's our one-year anniversary! [volume 56].

a year ago, today.

As of today, Justin & I have been married for 365 days, which I think is amazing. It feels like yesterday that I was heading down to Nottoway with my family, & Justin was heading in to Shreveport from Wilmington, & we were preparing for our wedding, flanked by our closest family & friends. As I reflect on our last year of marriage, I'm overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for having such a caring, loving, funny, & responsible husband. I can't wait to see all that lies in store for our life together! 

To celebrate our anniversary, we took a little road trip to Charleston, South Carolina. Ever since our visit back in February of this year - see here, here, here, here, here, & here - we have been smitten with the Holy City. It seemed only fitting to celebrate in a place we enjoyed so much last time. Since this is an advance edition of The Sunday Currently - I'm writing it on Friday night around 9:30 p.m. - I'm going to go ahead and guess that I will have many, many photos to share with you all, a small portion over here, & a large portion over on Sidda Snaps. And later on today, we'll be enjoying thawed-out, year-old wedding cake. Here's to life & love!

C  U  R  R  E  N  T  L  Y  .  .  .  

R E A D I N G the Ask Reddit thread obsessively each night before bed. 

W R I T I N G over on Sidda Writes & loving it. I have big plans & dreams for that space.

L I S T E N I N G to documentaries as I type this post out. Tonight, we've watched Top Ten UFO Sightings & The Most Dangerous Drug. We've been watching many such things on Netflix recently.

T H I N K I N G that I feel very blessed & lucky to have a great husband. 

S M E L L I N G freshly painted nail polish. In anticipation for our anniversary trip, I painted my nails "Cocktail Dress," by Ciate. This is the color that I was wearing when Justin & I got engaged a little less than two years ago!

W I S H I N G we could have brunch in Charleston every Sunday.

H O P I N G Justin & I have had a lovely little visit to the Holy City.

W E A R I N G an outfit fit for adventure, I'm sure.

L O V I  N G Justin.

W A N T I N G a lovely rest of the weekend. Though Justin & I have had a lot of time for relaxation over the past couple of days, today will be the day to get back in line for the week to come.

N E E D I N G to study a lot this week... my first statistics test is quickly approaching.

F E E L I N G happy. 

C L I C K I N G nothing this weekend. 

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photos: our wedding | taken one year ago | by Shana Burke

six things.

thoughts on monday.

sidda wears polish: Fall 2013 Nail Polish Picks.

Fall 2013 Nail Polish Picks

charleston-bound to celebrate our anniversary.

today, we're headed to charleston to celebrate our anniversary weekend.

on sunday, we'll have been married for an entire year - 365 days. 

october 13, you'll always be my favorite.

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photo by Shana Burke

six things.

an admittedly unrelated, goofy photo of myself. just because.

A while back, Sarah tagged me in her Six Things post. Since then, I've been attempting to dream up my answers, & now I think I've finally got some I'm proud of. I love reading others' posts like this, & I'm excited to share! Here we go...

What book or movie best describes how you view life?

Funnily enough, the movie that keeps popping into my mind when I think about this, is The Perks of Being a Wallflower. I still remember vividly the first time I read the book: my highlighter's cap permanently off, me painting the pages in fluorescent yellows & pinks. I was awestruck with the beauty, the simplicity, & the gnawing pain & emotion that Chbosky wrote with. And then, this past Valentine's Day, when Justin & I viewed the movie... I was just as breath-taken, just as in awe at its beauty. And I like to think that I view life the way the characters do... through a lens of experiences, memorable moments, & that aching feeling of nostalgia & trying to grab on to time as it slips through my fingers.

Here's what I consider one of the most moving scenes from the book:

"I hate you."

My sister said it different than she said it to my dad. She meant it with me. She really did. 

"I love you," was all I could say in return.

"You're a freak, you know that? You've always been a freak. Everyone says so. They always have.

"I'm trying not to be."

Let's talk brunch. If we were to hit up one of DC's finest, what would you be ordering off the menu?

Well, let's be honest: I'd start things off with a steaming cuppa joe. One of the highlights of any of my mornings finds its home in a warm mug. And going to brunch with someone, & chatting with them over a delicious cup of coffee, will always top my list of favorite things about that meal on lazy Sundays. But... let's see.... as far as food, I would more than likely branch out & try something I've never had before. I try to be adventurous in that way sometimes. And to finish up, I think I'd order a mimosa. Because what's brunch without a mimosa? [I say that, but I rarely indulge in them]. 

Tell us about a time you surprised yourself (could be in a good or bad way).

I surprised myself a lot this summer. Somewhere in between my two psychology classes, I found myself rising at the early call time of 6:15 a.m. Not because I needed to, but because I wanted to. I'd wake, come into the kitchen, make myself some coffee & breakfast, then slowly wake up for my day, reading my favorite blogs & watching my favorite YouTube subscriptions. I've tried & tried to maintain that routine this semester, but I guess with the sun rising at a later time, so am I.

If you could live in a different time period, what would it be and why?

Sarah, you have the best questions. I wish I had a clear answer to this one, but the truth is, I'm enthralled with the past. A whole lot of it, in fact. I find previous decades & time periods fascinating. How I would have loved growing up in my parents' generation & attending Woodstock, or really any concert, & swaying to that infectious music that was alive & thriving then. And then there's the roaring twenties, with flapper's garb, blowout parties... the glitz & glamor. And then, there's the early 1900s, with their beautiful corseted dresses, perfect manors, refined speech... I could go on & on. I think culture is an interesting topic indeed.

What gives you inspiration?

This is a difficult question for me to answer, because it varies greatly. There are days when scrolling through Pinterest, or my Instagram feed, or my blog roll delivers that swift injection of renewed interest... of renewed inspiration. But, there are days when those very things have the opposite effect & beat me down into the doldrums of lackluster thoughts & dim ideas. On those particular days, I find being in the outdoors, or perhaps putting pen to paper, or perhaps clicking away on my laptop's keyboard, or perhaps snapping photos of ordinary things... well, those things usually do the trick. And if none of that is sufficing, sometimes long, hot showers are where some of my best ideas emerge. Or, on the treadmill.

Quick! What's the last thing you Googled?

Well, about the last fifteen things that were Googled on my computer are things Justin Googled about Tim Tebow. But, the last thing I Googled was rather dull: custom youtube thumbnail size.

Sarah, thank you so much for tagging me to do this! It was fun, & like I said, you had such great questions! I'm going to have to dream up questions another day & tag people to answer them then, because right now I'm at a loss [it's been a long day around these parts!]. 

Hope everyone is having a great week! I'm still reveling in the joy of being back to blogging regularly. [I know... one day I'll shut up about it. One day.]

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photo: the goofy things we do | taken by Justin in March 2013

the sunday currently, volume 55.

today, we celebrated starbucks sunday.

C  U  R  R  E  N  T  L  Y  .  .  .  

R E A D I N G not much of anything, really. Unless you count statistics homework websites. Or anatomy books. Those count, right?

W R I T I N G things similar to those above. Thrilling stuff over here, folks. But, of course, I'm back to writing blog posts again, so there's that, too!

L I S T E N I N G to my fall playlist, as well as the episode of How I Met Your Mother we had on our DVR.

T H I N K I N G today will be a day of scholastic productivity. And house-cleaning.

S M E L L I N G not really anything. Thanks, sinuses.

W I S H I N G I could nap all day.

H O P I N G I breeze through everything I have to do today. Not likely, but why not wish?

W E A R I N G a dress & a scarf, which is kind of my uniform lately.

L O V I  N G the A I got on my first Anatomy & Physiology test. Yep, that's right, folks, I made an A!

W A N T I N G ... see "Wishing" above.

N E E D I N G to stay positive & non-stressed. And to make sure I get in my pilates for today.

F E E L I N G tired & sore. Uplifting, right? I know I'll feel better as the week progresses. 

C L I C K I N G Laura's post on sadness, Jenna's Autumn Writer's Equinox post, & this article on digital etiquette from The Week. 

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photo: starbucks sunday haul | taken this morning | find it on instagram

R E C E N T   P O S T S

the sunday currently, volume 54.

new & improved! plus, thoughts on my september blogging break.

loves lists: september 2013.

thoughts on monday.

thoughts on tuesday.

sidda wears polish: "I Don't Drink Cheap Wine," by Wet 'n Wild's Spoiled line.

sidda wears polish: "Gogo Girl," by Sinful Colors.

photo diary | espresso set.

Summer 2013 Empties
September 2013 Favorites

love lists: september 2013.

September 2013 was a month of nose-to-the-grindstone, blood-sweat-and-tears kind of work, in school as well as in other aspects of my life. It was a month of unrelenting to-do lists, days with far too few hours in them, & some - unfortunately - tearful moments spent in front of Statistics homework. But, I've made it through to the other side, & I'm ready to begin October with renewed hope, renewed enthusiasm, & renewed faith. But first... let's talk about the things I loved in the ninth month...

1. Archer Farms' Pumpkin Spice K-Cups. I'm a big lover of the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte [yes, I'm one of the very many who line up the first day of September - or really, whenever it's released - to taste that first sip of fall-time-in-a-cup], but I've found this to be a lovely little alternative, which is much more cost-effective than a $4-per-day cup of joe. Thank you, Archer Farms.

2. NYC Color Wheel Mosaic Face Powder in 723A Pink Cheek Glow. With the cooler months comes me wearing even more makeup than I already do. This, of course, means more blush, which is probably one of my favorite makeup items. This particular selection gives a rosy glow. Perfect any time of year, really, but especially beautiful for right now.

3. elf Contouring Blush & Bronzer Duo in blushed/bronzed. Another bargain, this bronzer has been compared to Nars' Laguna, & I can see why. I've really enjoyed it this month, & I find its pigmentation a pleasantly surprising experience each time.

4. Victoria's Secret Pink Body Lotion & Body Mist in Warm & Cozy. This one is a quintessential fall-time scent for me. Sweet, warm, & soothing, I've been slathering & spritzing it daily.

5. Homemade "Do" planner. Sometimes it just feels good to take matters into your own hands & design a planner. That's what I've been doing for the past couple of months, & it's something I plan to continue. Even though I'd like to add a Filofax to my organizational ranks come 2014, I will still be cranking out these homemade planners, to function as both a journal, as well as a rough-draft-planner, to map things out before neatly documenting them in my Filofax [hello, nerd alert].

6. The Wet Brush. A gift from my Mother-in-Law, I'm so glad to have this brush as part of my routine now. It can brush through the most difficult, tangly hair [read: mine] with ease & comfort. Note: your hair doesn't have to be wet to use it. That's just what it's called.

7. New Girl. I have a big love for Zooey Deschanel, so it didn't really surprise me when I took a liking to this show. But beyond her, the supporting cast is fantastic, hilarious, & lovable. Justin & I spent many-a-night laughing in front of this show. Love.

8. Glade candle in Fall Hayride. My new favorite candle. Go smell it & see/smell for yourself. It can easily compete with all of the Bath & Body Works favorites [the fall selections of which I need to stock up on soon].

Into watching vlogs?

Check out my corresponding September 2013 Favorites video here, or simply watch below!

What were you loving for the month of September? I'd love to hear about your favorite things.

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new & improved! plus, thoughts on my september blogging break.

sigh. autumn scenes are my favorite.

Hello out there! And Happy October! I'm so excited to be back here in this space, sharing with all of you. In September, I took a month off of blogging, to get everything under control with school, without the distraction of blogging hanging over my head.

So, yeah, let's talk about that. 

I think that taking September off of blogging, especially after the nonsense that was Blaugust, was just the kind of mental cleanse that I needed in order to get excited about blogging again. It also gave me the chance to step back, re-evaluate what I want out of my blog, & then plan for changes & adjustments that will make those goals possible. 

However, when examining my thoughts on taking blogging out of the equation in order to eliminate any stress that may arise because of it, I have a bit of a different view than I started off with. I went into my blogging sabbatical thinking that a lot of the stress I was feeling at the beginning of the fall semester was due to the pressure I felt to keep up with my blog. And yes, of course, when you add a project [blogging] to a schedule that is already heaping over with things to do, there could be an added stress factor. The beauty of blogging, though, is that you don't have to do it [well, at least not in my case, since blogging has been kept at the 'hobby' stage around here]. So, any stress you may feel from blogging as a hobby is purely self-imposed. And what does that mean? Well, it means you have free rein to eliminate that stress, by realizing you can blog when you have the time.

In addition, I was reminded, more than ever, by my September cleanse, that blogging is like therapy for me. It is my creative outlet. And when you take two big stress-relieving hobbies [in my case, blogging & reading for pleasure] out of the equation, it doesn't cut down on stress, like you envisioned, but it may even add to stress. I know, duh, right? Cut out something that relieves stress, & your stress levels will raise. It's elementary. But it took a blogging sabbatical for me to realize it.

So, in conclusion, I've decided that, just like I'll never commit to blogging every single day again, I'll also never commit to not-blogging every single day again. Bottom line: I will blog to my little heart's content, when I feel inspired, when I have the time, & when I am happy with the content I am putting out. Not a day sooner, not a day later. And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is what I gleaned from my little break.

Now, on to the fun stuff! You may have realized that things look a little different around here. As mentioned above, my brain was craving the creative release of blogging throughout the month of September. And, well, I channeled that creative energy into redesigning this space, as well as adding three additional blogs AND firing up my YouTube channel.

Wait, so now you have four blogs? Why?

Yes, now I have four blogs. This one, siddathornton, is the main hub of what I'll now be referring to as the siddathornton network. [I know, sounds fancy, right?] This blog will house all of my main content: The Sunday Currently, blurbs about what's going on in my life, Around Here Lately posts, monthly Love Lists, organizational posts… the list goes on & on. But I created three other blogs to help channel my thoughts & organize my ideas. Sidda Writes* will house writing of all kinds. Sidda Wears* will contain posts centering around nail polish, OOTDs, & FOTDs, as well as links to many of my YouTube videos. And Sidda Snaps* will center around photography & my exploration thereof. And then, there's the YouTube channel, which I'm hoping to upload a new video to each week. There you will find seasonal empties videos [I uploaded my Summer 2013 Empties video last week, in fact], monthly favorites [which will coordinate with my Love Lists posts here on siddathornton], tag videos, get-ready-with-me videos, & the occasional travel vlog. 

I know this may sound a little nutso. In fact, I went back & forth over whether to take my blog in this direction for quite some time, before deciding it was the way to go. The way I see it, it's not really creating more work, though it may appear that way on the surface. What it really does is create different avenues for me to share my ideas, without cluttering one space [siddathornton] up in a big way. In the past, I've often had ideas for posts, become overwhelmed with attempting to schedule them all out while still keeping them relevant, then ultimately decided on just giving up on them. These multiple avenues allow me to get all of my ideas out there in a timely fashion, while not cluttering up the main hub, siddathornton. 

I hope this had shed sufficient light on the direction I'm taking things from here on out. As far as posting schedules, as I touched on in my recap of the blogging sabbatical, I plan to update here on siddathornton regularly, as I have in the past, with posts such as The Sunday Currently [which will still go up every single Sunday], Friday's Fancies posts when I feel compelled to virtually pull together an outfit, musings, big life events, & Around Here Lately posts [which basically translates to a sharing of Instagram photos]. So, not much is going to change in the content that's shared here, or the rhythm to which it is shared. 

Differences will include that when I share photos from a trip, the trip recap will appear on siddathornton, accompanied by one or two images, with a link to Sidda Snaps, where the trip's snapshot [or large quantity of photos] will be found. Make sense? I'm basically just trying to cut down on clutter here on siddathornton, while still clinging to all the things I want to talk about.

I'm going to stop the explanation here, because I feel like I could talk all day about why I've decided to do this [but I don't think that will prove for very interesting reading! ha]. But if you have any questions surrounding this shift, please do just ask! 

I'll see you back here on Thursday, with my September 2013 Love List - I've accumulated a list of beauty products, as well as other, every-day, non-beauty-products, that I'm excited to share with you. I will also be uploading an accompanying video on my YouTube channel, so be sure to check that out as well if you feel so inclined. It's always fun to put a voice to a blogger, don't you think?

I've said it one hundred times in my Sunday Currently posts, & now a couple of times in this post, but I'm so very excited to be back here. Let's continue sharing our lives, our ideas, & our selves with one another. It makes the journey of life that much more enriching.

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photos:

fall scene, the pumpkin patch | taken on saturday | find it on instagram

siddathornton's new design | screen shot 

* If you find things like, "Wait... what's with all this 'Sidda' stuff? Isn't your name Lauren?" bouncing around in your head, go read this post. I think you'll find it all makes sense. Thornton is Sidda's home, & siddathornton is the main hub - the home - of my now network of four blogs. So, that's the story.