on listening: sometimes, it's the best medicine.

I had a post planned for today, but things - especially blogging things - don't always go to plan, do they?

Today I woke up later than I wanted to. I straightened my hair & wore a maxi dress, & it poured down rain. I saw one of my favorite Viners around town & was too scared to approach them [thanks, Luke Wilson] [and wow... my hair was really blonde in that post]. There were coffee grounds swimming around in my iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts. In short: things weren't going as well as they could have.

But then, I got to Whole Foods & just sat down with a friend & chatted about everything. True, we were there to get a jump on our anatomy class that's coming in the fall... & really, we only cracked the book & glanced at the flash cards. But really, I think we both just needed a chat. I think she needed to get some things off her chest, & I think that I needed to listen. 

Because when you take the time to really listen to someone, you realize how very much you are not alone in this world. And what better comfort is there than that?

That's all I really have to share today. I am grateful to June Blogs, because if I hadn't committed to posting every day, today is one I would have skipped, no question. You'll be happy to know that the day has gotten considerably better: I had a DELICIOUS, healthy lunch at Whole Foods, I got afternoon coffee from Starbucks, & now I'm mapping out a plan for cleaning my house this afternoon. And later, a walk in the park & a viewing of Pretty Little Liars, season 4, on Netflix. 

See? Sometimes all you need is a chat with a friend, & to look closely at all the little things that add up into one big sum of joy.

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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!

i choose the light.

Peach House in Kinston, North Carolina

Over Memorial Day weekend, Justin & I managed to marathon-watch the entire Harry Potter series on film. Every time I watch the series as a whole, I'm struck deeply, emotionally, by the epic battle of good & evil, of right & wrong, of light & darkness. The stark contrast of the two always takes me by surprise, & I am always, always subject to what feels like an emotional cleansing of sorts. I am always renewed & refreshed & restored. 

It's easy to remember who has wronged us in this life. It is easy to tether ourselves to firmly-rooted grudges. It is easy to look upon a memory with rolled eyes & a seething, muttered word. It is easy to avoid places that garner feelings of inadequacy, places that remind us of the wrongs that have befallen us at the hand of another. 

But, imagine returning to those places & choosing to see only the light. To see the solid wood frame of a house, peach-hued in color, with a creaking porch & a screened-in swinging door. To pour yourself a styrofoam cup of sweet tea, awaiting the arrival of your not-really-that-good quiche & better-than-you-expected spread of fruit. To sit at a back corner table alone, soaking in only the delightful & painted pastels of your time in this rural, archaic town. To remember only the wondrous routine of rising early, dressing to the nines, & shivering in your office while clutching a steaming cup of black coffee from the kitchen. To call to mind the nervous stomach that preceded adventurous trips home. To remember with a pang of sadness the night you spent distraught in front of the baggage claim, & crying all the way to Kinston from Raleigh. To remember that there can be joy in sadness, because it means you are alive, you are feeling, you are attuned to the importance of every little other life that happens to overlap with yours.

There is comfort in knowing that we, as humans, have a choice. We can choose to be bogged down & loathsome. We can choose to stew in our miseries, to cast blame & proclaim doubt. Or we can choose the other side: we can choose the light. We can choose to brighten another's day, whether or not we feel it necessary. We can lighten another's load, we can smile & that be enough. We can be kind & good & helpful & vivacious. We can choose to be a beacon for others lost at gloomy sea. 

I have the emotional wherewithal to choose the light, & choose the light I will. Every time.

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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!

jackson snapshot: friday day time.

As I mentioned in last Wednesday's post, I wanted to document the revelry that was Kara's graduation weekend in Jackson, Mississippi. Today I'll be sharing the goings-on of Friday day time, which as you will see, was quite eventful in itself. As we were gearing up for the Baccalaureate event that evening, as well as my parents' arrive from Shreveport, there was a festive twinge in the air, & I can still feel that very feeling today, as I am typing this out. 

Want to see more from Graduation Weekend?

the journey there

We woke up to a rainy Jackson Friday. Kara came & retrieved us from the Cabot, & we started the day off with a little brunch/lunch at Broad Street, followed by a quick perusal at Lemuria Books. A trip to Whole Foods happened, because what's a day without treats from their bakery section? It is important to note that this was the day I tried my first - EVER - macaron. [I know. How had I made it that far in life without tasting one?]. I got the coffee flavor, & it certainly packed a delicious punch. Sadly, our Whole Foods doesn't carry this delicacy [or perhaps it is a happy thing?]. 

After the joy that is Whole Foods, we were given a proper tour of Kara's more-than-precious house, a historic home right on North State Street. I had every intention of pulling out the DSLR & taking some detail shots, but alas, it never happened. We played music & nosed around the house while Kara got ready for graduation practice, during which we attempted to buy her a book about Jackson/Millsaps from Lemuria. They had NO books on Jackson OR Millsaps. How is that even possible? The jury is still out on that question.

We trekked out to Lowe's after practice to pick up a Mother's Day gift for my mom - a Japanese Maple. I had previously gifted her another of these trees, but as they are one of her favorite's, I thought her yard could do with an addition. She loved it, by the way. And I hope it will always remind her of Kara's graduation weekend that we spent together.

You may have noticed those ridiculous "selfies" at the end of the photo collage. I'd say sorry, but I'm not. Because when good eyebrow days happen, selfies happen. There's just nothing else to say on the matter.

Join me back here next week for a look at Baccalaureate, a Millsaps Graduation tradition. 

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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!

photo diary: a wilmington weekend.

The prospect of moving at the end of July has thrown into sharp relief everything that I love about living here. Suddenly, Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is even more stately. Suddenly, Elijah's feels like a cozy, upscale camping lodge [for lack of a better description] that could house any number of special events in my life. Suddenly, walking through downtown Wilmington feels a bit like a dream. Suddenly I don't want to leave.

But we are leaving. 

And so, I will document. 

Justin & I had such a wonderful weekend. I had a beautiful, serene walk at Hugh MacRae Park [fondly referred to in the C household as "my park"] Saturday morning while Justin popped into work for a while. We had noon breakfast at Sawmill, the most comforting diner. We enjoyed a late dinner at Elijah's, then we slowly traversed the river walk, taking in the sights, which included the merriment of more than one wedding. We tried Jimbo's for breakfast on Sunday, where I had the fluffiest, most decadent clearly homemade biscuit ever. We spent a lazy, blissful afternoon on the golf course at Beau Rivage. 

Everything we did, I viewed through rose-colored lenses. But I guess that's the way of it: you never really appreciate a season until its either on its way in or on its way out. It's the middle-stuff that gets overlooked, forgotten. And I'm ok with that for right now, because I can't express how wonderful it is to feel free to celebrate Wilmington each day. I am going to squeeze all the juice out of this city that I can.

And what will I learn from this experience? I will learn to approach life & my surroundings - whatever they may be - with such vigor every day, as I am exhibiting in these last Wilmington ones. Not just when a move is on the horizon. 

And I will share that vim & vigor - that gusto - with each & every one of you, as much as I humanly can.

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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!

weekly wishes one.

I mentioned in my June Things post that I would be participating in the Weekly Wishes link-up each week, unless I had another post on the docket for that particular Monday. Well, this week is my first official Weekly Wishes post [note that the title of this post is "weekly wishes one"]! I am excited to set three goals each Monday, & to share my results & my three new goals on the following Monday. So, let's get on with the wishes for this week.

THIS WEEK'S WISHES

1. Get ahead with my blog posts. I've been meaning to do this since June Blogs started, but I have found myself busy with projects & other engagements in the past week. Luckily, I think I will be able to carve out some time to get - hopefully - two weeks ahead of my posting game this week. The plan is to have two weeks' worth of posts drafted in blogger, & then each day, I will polish the next day's post before scheduling it. Also, I will obviously have the capability to pull a post & place it on postponed status if another more appropriate post needs to fill its spot. I'm really excited to get organized & to get ahead, & I hope this is an extra step in turning over a new blogging leaf.

2. Walk 10,000 steps or more each day. After reading Alison's post this past week, I decided to set my own goal. Granted, it is a much shorter time frame than her 100 days, but I still feel like it's a good starting point. Maybe in a couple of months, I'll be able to commit to 10,000 steps for 100 days. Thanks for the inspiration to put my Fitbit to even better use, Alison!

3. Get up at 6:15 a.m. every single day this week. I mentioned this in my June Things, but I haven't exactly fulfilled this goal yet. I'm really ready to commit myself to the rhythm of waking at 6:15 each day. When I did it last summer, it made me very happy. This is yet another way I'm putting my Fitbit to work - by using its silent alarm, I hope I'll be unable to stay in bed past this time.

So, there you have it! What are your goals this week? Perhaps you'd like to pop over to The Nectar Collective & link up for Weekly Wishes this week. Whether you do or not, I'd love to know what you've got on the agenda for the next seven days.

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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 90.

another photo from my saturday-morning walk at HMP

Hello out there! How are you spending this Sunday? Justin & I are about to get out of the house & have some breakfast. We are either going to one of our tried-&-true favorites, Dixie Grill, or try a new one, called Jimbo's. Then, we're off to play a round of golf [or at least Justin is - I think I'm going to just ride in the cart, read my book, & hit a couple of balls].

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

R E A D I N G  on a schedule again, but still a bit behind. I've been grappling with lots of projects lately, though, & this week, things will be a little freer. Time to catch up & settle into a steady, comforting rhythm.

W R I T I N G  is another thing I plan to tackle daily this week. With my planner, composition journal & blog-drafting books, food & health journal, question-a-day journal, & gratitude journal, things sometimes feel a little overwhelming. But I'm ready to tackle it all this week! 

L I S T E N I N G  to My House Wife Life videos has been a thing while working on the aforementioned projects lately. Also, One Tree Hill.

T H I N K I N G  that a trip to the car wash is on the horizon for my Tahoe. We have company coming in just two short weeks, & I want everything to be in tip-top shape upon their arrival. I'm sure you know what else needs some work in order for said tip-top shape to be achieved... that's right... the beloved C abode needs some TLC. I'll be sure to shout it from the rooftops [or at least from this blog platform] as soon as I've actually, successfully completed that beast of a task.

S M E L L I N G  the absence of burning candles in my life recently, & missing it. Perhaps a summer scent mini shopping trip is in order?

W I S H I N G  there were double the hours in a day. Season two of Orange Is The New Black came out on Netflix on Friday, but we are only three season into the nine-season project that is One Tree Hill. Surely this can be worked out with some kind of elaborate TV-watching schedule, right? I've got to fit Girls in there somewhere, too, though I only have two episodes left before I'll have to wait for the fourth season. 

H O P I N G  my Dad enjoys his Father's Day Gift. I completed it this weekend, & it will be tucked into the mail, prepared to trek the 1,020 miles to Shreveport bright & early tomorrow morning.

W E A R I N G  more minimal makeup since the warmer months are upon us [or at least trying to]. I love makeup, but I've been really trying to be a little lighter-handed lately. 

L O V I N G  all the water I've been drinking. Sure, I feel like I spend half the day running to the restroom [#TMI], but I guess it's worth it to be healthy.

W A N T I N G  a dozen iced chocolate glazed donuts from Southern Maid. And an oreo blizzard. And an entire pumpkin pie, heavy on the whipped cream. And an all-you-can-eat, build-your-own pasta bar. And sushi. Lots of sushi. Can you tell it's diet season around these parts? I mentioned in last week's TSC post that I was embarking on some healthy-living changes, & even though they're going really well & I'm feeling a lot better, it feels better for me to state my cravings aloud.

N E E D I N G  a biscuit with grape jelly this morning. That's one of the indulgences I've allowed myself: a biscuit with coffee for "breakfast dessert" on Sunday mornings.

F E E L I N G  good. Much better than the last couple weeks of TSC "feeling" categories. So, that's something to celebrate! 

C L I C K I N G  The Sunday Secrets this morning.

this week's posts:
i've decided

my current favorite instagram accounts

the world at large

jackson snapshot | the journey there

on letting myself rest

june things

the sunday currently, volume 89

Well, we're off to enjoy the day! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your weekend. Join me here on siddathornton every day of the coming week [as well as every day this month] for more posts.

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!

i've decided...

+ that watching One Tree Hill right before we pack up & move away from Wilmington is a bittersweet way to commemorate this time of change in our lives.

+ that it's ok to just be & stop trying so hard.

+ that the show Girls - & Lena Dunham herself - is very empowering & freeing.

+ that there is joy - great joy - in routine & familiarity.

+ that relaxing into yourself, trusting God, & breathing deeply are all key.

What have you decided?

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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!

my current favorite instagram accounts.

all photos are from my instagram account - follow along here!

Lately, I've found myself inspired by Instagram, from both the perspective of uploader & viewer. I thought I would share the accounts that are inspiring me most as of today, as well as why!

1. lone hands - Lindsay's photos have a dreamy, surreal, "stormy" quality to them. ["Stormy" has come to be the adjective with which I attempt to describe my favorite type of photo editing. Does this make sense to anyone else? Does anyone have suggestions to better describe what I'm getting at?]

2. sleepinthegardn - This is Troian Bellisario's account. She plays my favorite character on Pretty Little Liars. I think she is a really interesting person, & I think her account is a reflection of that.

3. organizedjen - I have mentioned more than a couple of times that Organized Jen is a great motivator for me. Her Instagram account is a cheery, motivational, bright place on my feed.

4. wishfulnals - When I think of Natalie's account, I think of travel documentation at its best, to which I definitely aspire [and am still working on].

5. katezharvey - Kate's photos are simple, fresh, & inspiring.

7. nannerburns - I LOVE Anna's photos. She portrays a style that I would like to be able to emulate. Her blog is one of my favorites, too.

8. vestiges - Kristen's feed has long been a source of inspiration for me. I feel like she always posts with intention, which is something I am striving for in my own account.

Who are your favorite instagrammers right now? Who do I need to add to my queue? I could name quite a few more in this post, but I figured it would be best to share in smaller snippets. Look for more editions of this post in the coming months!

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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 world at large.

a late spring, downtown wilmington scene

The other day, as I was walking through Hugh MacRae Park, listening to the Band of Horses Pandora station, a song came on that I hadn't listened to in a while.

It was The World at Large, by Modest Mouse, & as its notes poured over me, I was transported. Suddenly, it was twilight on an achingly late summer day. All the windows were down, the music up, the jarring smell of air freshener mingling with cigarettes. We were speeding along i49, the wind air-drying my damp, curly hair. I had that overly-tired feeling you get after you swim all day, & my skin had probably seen more sun than it should have that day. There was an almost tangible feeling of change in the air: we were about to close the door on high school forever, & the incalculable experience of college was on its way in.

And years later, I'm able to realize that that moment had more to do with myself singularly than it ever had to do with who I shared it with [a distinction it isn't easy to make from close up]. It had to do with the energy within myself, with my summer soul, with the promise that lie ahead. It had to do with the fluidity of space & time, with the transformative power of music. 

So even today, when I hear the melody, the rhythmic drum beats, the ebb & flow of those familiar notes, I recognize my old self in my new self. I feel at home within myself. I am happy & whole & at peace.

listen to The World at Large here

see a little more of HMP here

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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!

jackson snapshot: the journey there.

As you may have gathered from this post, my sister, Kara, graduated college a few weekends ago. Justin & I were lucky enough to make the trip west to be a part of all the festivities, & I wanted to share the memories here so that I can treasure them even more. I've decided to split the posts up by event, so there will be six total, when all is said & done. Without further ado, I give you: the journey there.

Please note: For some reason, I toted our DSLR along for the trip to Jackson, but didn't take a single photo with it. Thus, all the coverage from this event will include photos taken on an iPhone.

We journeyed to Jackson on a Thursday evening, so that Justin could get in a full day at work beforehand. We stopped over in Atlanta, which, weirdly enough, has become one of my favorite airports. There is a restaurant there, called Cafe Intermezzo, which has become a little travel landmark of sorts for Justin & me. It has become a part of our travel routine, when we find ourselves in Atlanta, to stop in, have a light dinner, then share a piece of cheesecake & a pot of tea. It has truthfully become such a travel comfort to me, & it is one I look forward to eagerly.

a little internet surfing at the dinner table - justin & i call this "reading our people"

After a short & smooth flight from Atlanta to Jackson, we were given a grand greeting by Kara, welcoming committee in tow. As we were arriving in the midst of graduation festivities, events were happening all over Millsaps campus, & Kara recruited a few of her friends to accompany her on the trek out to the airport. It was so nice [and dare I say, completely entertaining] to have such a warm, inviting welcome to my sister's college town. It was definitely an indication of all the fun that was to come that weekend!

We stayed at the rustic, cozy Cabot Lodge for the weekend, & I couldn't have been happier with that choice. The Cabot is right on the edge of Millsaps' campus, so we felt like we were right in the thick of things the whole time, which you will be able to see in subsequent posts.

I'll be popping in next Wednesday with the next installment of our Jackson travel series, which will recap the events of a Friday morning spent with the graduate herself!

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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!

on letting myself rest.

I know that I mentioned these very kinds of posts in this post, & how I wasn't pleased when they were all I was writing, but I decided to keep them around, in moderation. Why? Because, well, I feel like they are even more personal than any of my other posts. They are a way for me to share my thoughts of the day, whatever they may be.

Today,  I am coming to you from my favorite Starbucks in town. The new one on Oleander. And, you know, I feel like I need to go to my favorite places in Wilmington as much as possible, because at the end of July, we're moving away from here. 

And today,  I am just glad that I got out of bed before eleven. I am just glad that I put on makeup, fixed my hair. I am just glad that I packed up my laptop & composition books & made my way over here to work on things. I am just glad to be here. Working. Thinking. Doing.

Because I'm going to be honest with you: yesterday, I spent all day in my pajamas. Yesterday, I watched Girls almost the entire time I was awake. And when Justin got home? We watched One Tree Hill. Basically, what I'm telling you, is that I spent the whole of yesterday on the couch, in my pajamas, watching TV.

But this morning, I realized that that was ok. It was ok, because that was what my body clearly needed. In the days leading up to yesterday, this weird sort of lethargy was just... enveloping me in a way that I couldn't ignore. I was tired all the time, my body ached... but I continued to push myself to work out, to make to do lists, to feel bad about myself when I didn't achieve the things on those lists. 

So yesterday, I just internally yelled - ENOUGH! - at myself & did what I wanted. All day. So I watched Girls & One Tree Hill &  didn't get dressed. And I believe it is for that reason that I am actually able to function as a normal human being today. So you see, it all worked out. It all served a purpose. So I guess what I'm saying is, when you feel that you are exhausted, give yourself a break. Let yourself be re-energized. Your next-day self will thank you. I'm almost sure of it.

Know why else I like these kinds of posts? They remind me of my early-blogging Xanga days. And I liked those days & what those blogs represented back then. Did you have a Xanga?

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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!