Daily joys lately.

Good morning everyone! Are you well? Are you hanging in the December rush? It feels like a rush to me at least. I've tried to turn the month of December over in my mind and look at it from different angles to see how to get it to NOT feel so crammed full with to do's and I haven't figured it out yet. 

It's partly because we have two family birthdays this time of year, along with the holidays. Of course these are joyous occasions and something we look forward to, as are the holidays! My brain just has a lot of tabs open and is needing the creator and scheduler in me to be on more than I sometimes feel like they've been filled up with new ideas. I suppose I should mention I've had the c word sickness and it is really taking some time for me to feel back to normal. So, deep breaths and focusing on what I CAN do and collecting the joy that's just sitting there waiting are huge game changers. I know this to be very, very true.  Also, grace for needing to rest or say no! 

This was pre-sickness but I took my kid for a run at my favorite trail. It is really neat to see how the trail changes throughout the year and especially fulfilling to pass along running tips to my daughter. Just little things I've learned over the past year and a half. I've tossed around the idea of doing a running post. I'm no expert-but I HAVE become a runner when I haven't ever done anything athletic before in my life. 

So maybe like a guide for very beginners? I mean, if I can run a half marathon at age 39 there's hope for whatever you want to try and aren't sure you can do yet!

My nails are currently plain :( but this year I've pretty much switched entirely to Dashing Diva nail wraps. I LOVE them and can get a week and a half wear out of them. I bought some packs for around $4 on Black Friday and each pack will get at least two applications or even three so after doing the math-sounds like an amazing deal to me!  I do dishes, lift a ton of things in the library, help teach PE and they still stay on. 

We decorated this tiny tree quite a while ago. It sits by the coffee station and brings us much joy! We got the ornaments from my grandparents.

This years mantle! I had so much fun putting this together!

Little kitchen decorations.  I do more of a winter theme so that way it can stay up until February or March and not drive me crazy. 

Seeker of and believer in the light-always.

My security blanket for getting better.

A winning combo-coffee and an inspiring read! I love the Feel Free magazine SO much. It makes me want to get my hands messy and create. This issue even had a little guide to creating, according to how much time and how many supplies you had on  hand. Just genius!

We do have a very creative house. Someone is always leaving a little project out. 

Bought this for myself as I was doing Christmas shopping. It looks like a shirt I would have painted! I think it's so cheerful and FUN! It's from Natural Life. 

Do you buy yourself things too, as a reward for doing all of the shopping, wrapping, and planning? I've been known to even wrap things for myself and put them under the tree.

We were literally adventuring in the rain.....on a Sunday and parked in front of this window. We almost felt like it was a joke! I mean, the shop is called "Sunday Rain Boutique". Isn't that funny?! This was a day I had very little energy but still had two girls to keep from squabbling with each other and off a screen (right?!) so we headed out for a little drive, making a quick stop here or there. It was lovely.

Just incredible. You might guess I was somewhere amazing here, to get this view. In fact, I was just at the local Dollar General. Look up! You never know what might be waiting for you. 

Taking the longer way home to see this.

Dining room shelves all decorated for winter.

I put makeup on and got dressed this day-the first in a while. Felt nice.

We visited the art museum in a couple towns over recently. It is amazing!! We've been to NYC three times and done museums there and this one rivals those. Seriously. 
This is my favorite painting in the whole place.

Reminded me of my dad because he collects Coke bottles.

This made me want to go home and collage!

We got to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibit. It left me speechless, especially this room/wall. When we walked into this space it was dark and quiet. No one was speaking, hardly even a whisper. There was just a reverent silence. It made tears jump into my eyes. Everyone just sitting or standing there, taking in the photography and the beauty and uniqueness of the people in the photographs. 

One of my favorite restaurants in Fayetteville. Isn't it beautiful?

This day we were headed home and it had been dark and cloudy all day, but suddenly it was like a warm glow just exploded. I even said to the girls-something is getting our attention! What is going on?! THIS is what was going on. A sudden burst of sunlight, just blazing. We definitely sat up and paid attention.

A favorite memory from Thanksgiving break-I made clam chowder and we watched an old John Candy movie.

We love the Grinch in our house. That part where his heart grows three sizes gets me every single time.

Haha-that face is how I feel sometimes. 

Happy stacks from the local library. We go between 2-3 times a month. These visits definitely make my most favorite things list. So does Taylor Swift's music. Say or think what you will but we are fans.

Gingerbread house making for my gal's birthday!

I thought this was incredible how the light was shining perfectly on this painting.

The real life mess of cooking for Thanksgiving...

and the "after" when I was showered and dressed in a proper outfit! I got the green purse at Wal-Mart and I am loving it! 

Me and Papaw! 

Date night outfit. Really loved this one.

Always trying to soak in that sunlight and also add more glow to my face. The 40's so far are all about moisturizing and adding in the glow. 

One morning I opened some blinds I don't usually which made all these little rainbows fill the bathroom.  Maybe there's a lesson there about changing your routine every now and then?!

I haven't given up on running. I got discouraged having to take two weeks off and since then have gotten back into the habit but it is REALLY hard to have time for dishes, laundry, cooking, meal planning/grocery shopping, extra activities, appointments, AND running. 

I'm still too stubborn and determined to quit. I really do want to do another half marathon. We'll see.

That light! Just dreamy. It even makes the mess in the house look softer somehow. 

Playing around on paper one night. I miss making art! :(

Taped some things down one day in my art journal. These two pics are the extent of my art making lately and my soul is really feeling the gap. 

My family!

And now please enjoy five million pictures of our tree that Brett cut down on the farm for us. I love it. It's probably my favorite tree we've EVER had. We watched Noelle while we put it up and it was really fun.

An easy and comfortable outfit with pants from the clearance rack at Wal-Mart. I read something recently that said it was all about your eye, not where you get your clothes.

Mixed pattern gal for life. This and color make me happy!!

Another outfit I liked. I don't always end up liking what I put on, believe it or not. 

A very relaxing, VERY 40-year old breakfast.

I dyed my hair a couple of times and cut it real short a summer or so ago. Now I'm back to feeling like myself-hair longer and not so dark. Oh! And totally going grey at the top, you can especially tell when I pull my hair back.

I adored this dress and tried it on for fun. It was too $$ and I don't have anywhere to wear it but it sure was fun to pretend!

I DID buy these shoes with a gift card I kept for almost a whole year. You will never be able to get me out of these pretty shoes! Aren't they just a dream?! I love velvet and sparkle. 

Nikon pics! I still pick up my big camera every now and then.

These little plants are our fave and I liked the polka dot drops in the background too.

Winter is here. It's been cold some but so far a pretty mild winter. We don't get to have learn at home days when it snows anymore so I'm crossing my fingers and toes that winter stays mild.

I do love the look of frost though.

Last, if you look close you can see these satellites that went by a few months back. It was weird and creepy looking. 

I have a question-

what's consistently good for you these days? 

For me-coffee, Taylor Swift music, candles, planning my outfits, reading, the public library, oatmeal in the mornings, our Christmas tree, my students, anything art, decorating, or creativity related.

I hope you have some time to just be. I hope you have happy things that become a part of your daily routine. I hope you are able to notice the joy that slides in and out around us.