December 31st, 2013

As 2013 ends, I feel like looking back on some amazing events of the past year. Some heartbreak and sad times too.....I'd like to mention them as a thing that once was and can now be forgotten.

January-I turned 28. I remember that month as being especially festive. I think I saw my siblings a lot. I accomplished a very sexy 60's look for the staff party at City Feed. No pictures.

February- my relationship of 2+ years ended. It was amicable but very sad.

March- St. Patrick's day was especially (un) memorable. My sister had to almost carry me home. Thanks T. Started visiting NH more. Started to make a plan for my career and life....so I thought.

April- Went on a date with someone I knew from high school. Instant connection. Instant love.

May-Started a new relationship. Over the moon happy! Started to reconsider my "plan". My sister moved in with me. My ex moved out. Got a car for the first time in 8 years.

June-Decided to move to NH with my love. Told my employer I was leaving. Not an easy decision/conversation to have. I had worked there for 5 years and was on track to run (officially) the store.

July- July was just fun! Beaches, NH, love, the park.

August- my job ended. I moved to NH. Last beach day I got so badly burned I STILL can see tan lines.

September- settled into a lovely house. Started to focus on my Etsy business.

October- did a detox. Results were good. Starting one again soon! For the first time in years I did not buy cigarettes this month. Nor did I crave anything maple or pumpkin. I went on many walks and really enjoyed the changing of the seasons.

November-Got a new job. Started doing craft fairs. Made the best Thanksgiving meal ever (Will agreed).

December- Re-learned how to drive in snow. Made a snow angel. Almost sold out of all the things I had made over the Fall. Keep falling more and more in love. Celebrated the Solstice instead of Christmas. New tradition!

I am very excited for 2014. New Year's is always a time when people decide they need to change everything in their life. Or make all these new goals. I just want to keep being strong. Learn more about who I am. Learn more about who I am in this relationship. Keep loving. Happy New Year!

December 1st, 2013

I can't believe it's December already. Will and I have been together for almost 7 months. This time of year usually brings me down, but this year I am taking pleasure in the grey skies and empty trees. Thanksgiving was last week, and for the first time, I got to do exactly what I wanted-cooking all day with Will. Here are the things I am the most thankful for in my life right now.

*A job-I get to work in S. Acworth, one of the most beautiful places I've ever been.
*I still get to do artwork-I just had my first craft fair!
*ROOT liquor. It tastes just like root beer. I know there is an awesome drink to be made with it.
*I am drinking coffee again. On weekends.
*Perfectly roast chicken.
*Olive cream cheese.
*Watching old and foreign movies with someone who genuinely likes them.
*Not celebrating Christmas (but still getting excited about giving gifts)

October 22nd, 2013

The things....

*I moved to NH!!! Back living in Keene with my beau. Couldn't be happier!!
*Have an Etsy shop- The Campfire Collectv!!
*am knitting like CRAZY getting ready for winter
*did another successful cleanse
*can't drink coffee anymore :(
*Annie Lennox Radio is amazing
*finally finished CSI Miami AND CSI NY...only Vegas left!
*turns out I AM a cat person
*am reading the 50 scariest books of all time with Will
*discovered my favorite drink of all time. The Caribou (equal parts whiskey and red wine, with a dash of maple syrup shaken in a cocktail shaker). Divine.
*am really excited to make chili
*AND for the first time ever, I don't feel obligated to celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas the traditional way!!!

August 13th, 2013

The things.

*moving in with the love of my life

*teal nail polish

*heirloom tomatoes

*4 days left of work

*haircut in two days!

*jewelry box 

*tying up the loose ends

*Arlo Guthrie radio on Pandora

*Nina Simone on Spotify

*Grey Lady 

*watching great B movies with Will (my love!)

and so much more....

July 15th, 2013

Things I will miss about Jamaica Plain:

1. The many wonderful bars and restaurants-The Haven, the Galway House, City Feed, Bella Luna, JP Seafood. 

2. Jamaica Pond-this body of water helped me keep my sanity for 6 years. 

3. The Arboretum-I only visited a handful of times, but I spent one very meaningful afternoon lying in the grass there. 

4. JP Knit and Stitch-the best yarn store I've ever been in. Clean, bright, friendly, and great products. 

5. Community-I come from a pretty tight community, but I never really understood how powerful and wonderful having a sense of community can be. I really feel I became a part of it. 

6. Friends-I made a handful of friends over the course of 6 years, and I shall miss them all dearly. 

Things I will NOT miss about Jamaica Plain:

1. Double wides

2. Vegan bike riding mullet sporting hipsters

3. The orange line

4. Wake Up the Earth-a festival that makes my skin crawl

5. The screeching 39 bus that almost hit me more than once

6. Street cleaning-no more towing, tickets, or having to remember to move my car

7. JP moms. 

As my move gets closer and closer, I leave behind the stress, heartache, frustration and sadness of the last 6 years. I take with me the friendships and experiences that have helped me grow into the person I am today. This next phase of my life will be the most exciting adventure I have ever been on, and I do not intend to ever look back. 

June 13, 2013

take these broken wings 

and learn to fly.

You were only waiting, 

for this moment to be 

free.

-John Lennon

June 12, 2013

The worst feeling is to be surrounded by people and feel completely alone. That's what happens when I ride the subway. On my way to dinner, I was thinking of nothing but the people in my life I love and cherish. It was impossible to stay focused. The subway is so loud and smelly and creepy. Dinner went well. Better than anticipated. It left me feeling slightly empty, the way one could only expect from such a situation. My thoughts have been filled by someone else for many weeks now, so completely and utterly I neglected my friend. But we left laughing. On the ride home the train was almost empty. I felt so sad I almost started crying.

June 4th, 2013

First post in over a year. It feels strange and also nice knowing almost no one will read this.

Here are the things keeping me going these days:

*new love!
*Records (they just sound so much more interesting)
*the Lumineers, the Pointer Sisters, and Lana Del Rey
*the search for great craft beer
*at least a dozen tattoo designs
*kombucha
*new books new books new books
*joy of sharing my cooking with those I love

Lots more, but how much sharing is too much?

Can't wait to meet my new baby this Friday!!!!!!