My weekend in pictures: holiday edition

At the risk of sounding like a total scrouge, I will confess that Christmas isn't exactly my thing. I don't even have a Christmas tree this year, however I did manage to send out Christmas cards and my friends have done a pretty good job of trying to get me into the spirit.

This weekend was full of holiday parties: my best friends work party at a local brewery, a tacky Christmas sweater party, a gift exchange/brunch with some of my favorite girlfriends, and a 'fabulous' party at my friend Micheal's gallery. My body is seriously paying for the endless consumption of wine I indulged in over the weekend, and water has never tasted so gooooood.

[01] eating dinner on my counter top, because i sold my kitchen table and bar stools without really thinking that whole thing through. [02] i spent the whole day in bed Saturday with this handsome guy. [03] my tacky sweater... i like it because Santa's black. [04] all of the pretty gifts at our Christmas brunch. [05] a glass blowing demonstration at Micheal's party last night -- I got the be the volunteer and even got to help blow the glass! [06] at Michael's with some of my favorite neighbors!

Are you in the holiday spirit yet? I can't believe Christmas is Sunday -- are you kidding me?

decorating my space.

Living alone certainly has it's perks - first and foremost, getting to decorate however you want. I have a very bohemian style, and it's been fun finding interesting pieces and seeing how they all fit together in my 'new' space.

I am so lucky, because every Saturday the alley behind my complex transforms into a place where artists, thrifters, and antique buyers come together. Another bonus, I have two amazing friends who own galleries next door, so I am always searching over their art and finding great pieces. I love living in the art district :)

Two lovlies who found a home with me this weekend - the Ottoman is from Micheal Sparks Design and the small table is from my good friend Bart's Studio.

So far my bedroom, bathroom and living room are complete (pictures to come)! Next on my wishlist, is a giant tee-pee for my room downstairs... a dreamy getaway filled with pillows, candles, star lights, and good books. Here are some on my wishlist:

credit

Emotion.

it's the little things... like listening to a good playlist while cuddling with my puppy :)

As we grow and continue to evolve, we go through an array of emotions. Some days we are incredibly happy, others sad, others maybe even ambivalent. As an extremely emotional person (I blame it on being a true Cancer), it has taken me a long time to understand that it is okay to feel emotions - all of them; no emotion is bad.

It has taken me such a long time to come to terms with this. And I think that I am finally beginning to understand that emotions are natural and it's so important to feel them... not push them inward and attempt to ignore them. The first step, for me, has been taking the time to love myself -- all of me. Especially the messy imperfections.

The greatest lesson in life is cherishing things that make you happy, and learning to embrace and then let go the things that make you sad. Easier said than done, but it's a process and intentional path that you must choose individually. It's so worth it in the end.

You are the only person in the Universe exactly like you. Special, and worthy of love -- especially love for yourself. Life is such an incredible adventure, and every day is a new chance to learn and create and become whatever it is that truly makes you happy.

Sending you love from my little space on the internet - xx

life without cable & internet.

After this week, I will have been separated for an entire month. That feels weird to say. I think the oddest thing about the divorce process, and also the most liberating, is no longer having to answer to anyone else except for your own inner voice. That's not to say that I haven't gotten incredibly lonely - this is the first time that I've lived by myself and sometimes it's strange going to sleep without telling some one else goodnight. I can feel myself growing and changing by the second, and I feel as if my life looks different each time I blink.

It's been a process, but my boss has been amazing and let me take two weeks off to figure things out and start my new life. The first thing I did was clean my loft (my loft!) and make some girly purchases, such as a new purple bathroom. It felt good, theraputic even, to clean and clean and clean for three whole days. I was able to cry, to laugh, mostly... to trust myself. I'll be ok, this isn't the end of my life but the start of a new beginning.

I've been cutting corners so that I can afford to stay in my loft without moving -- it's expensive, but this way when my lease runs up in August I can move anywhere I want. I think I will probably leave Virginia for the first time in my entire life, and it feels like an adventure. I cut off cable and internet... and I feel more in touch with myself and reality than I expected. My days these past few weeks have involved waking up early, eating breakfast with my puppy, spending hours at the river, reading (I'm on book #4!), talking on the phone with old friends, cooking, wine drinking, and best of all: nightly three hour bubble baths.

It feels like I'm getting to know myself for the first time -- like I'm dating myself, treating myself good for once. Life is going to be okay for me. Maybe even more than okay... the sky's the limit!