This is for a girl

This is just a note for a girl who does brave things;

She does them all the time.

A girl who smiles with her eyes

And laughs big, even at bad jokes.

For a girl who is super-hero-viking-warrior-strong.

You know the worst thing about being strong?

People forget that sometimes she doesn’t feel like being strong or tough or a super-hero-viking-warrior.

This is for that girl.

This is just a note I wrote for a girl who does brave things.

She makes me brave, too.

If you could blog a note to someone you love today, who would it be?
love, elizabeth

Explorers Club

I’ve talked about Melissa on the blog before but I may have forgotten to mention how absolutely sad I am now that she has moved to South Carolina to be a big grown-up animal doctor (booooooooooooooooooo) instead of staying here in Columbus with me. So when she told me she was thinking about coming up for Labor Day weekend, I got super-joyous. And then she did. And now she’s here! Since our time together is limited…we are taking full advantage and doing every awesome thing we can think of. Starting with breakfast.

 

I had never been to the Explorers Club in Merion Village but I am so glad Melissa knew about it because it is the coolest, out-of-the-way little place. The service was wonderful and the food was perfect.

Their vegetarian menu is AWESOME and they were able to substitute tofu for scrambled eggs. So good.

This is Melissa’s I’m-Sad-I-Live-in-South-Carolina-And-Not-Here face.

I am not even going to think about how sad I’m going to be in two days when she has to go home.

Happy Labor Day weekend!

love, elizabeth

Lunch Date

When you’ve seen another person through some of the best and worst days of their life, the conversation seems to move from the present to the past and back without much effort. When Beth and I were talking over coffee yesterday, we started reminiscing about college, some of the good stuff, and some of the painful stuff, too. We laughed about things and then were surprised that we could laugh.

"Wow,” Beth said and smiled that smile she remembers something, “That’s the gift of time, I guess.”

And that just really stayed with me for the rest of the day and for the drive of home. Time is a gift. It helps us let go and it helps us hold on. And it made me realize that, when it comes to my friendship with Beth, no one makes me laugh like Beth, no one is quiet with me like Beth, no one else can do Gossip Girl impressions with me like Beth, no one understands me like Beth, and the most important thing she has ever given me is her time.

Living hours away from my best friend who, like me, has been in graduate school for the last three years means that when we both find time to sneak away and hang out for a few hours, we leap. So yesterday, we met in Cincinnati for lunch at Findlay’s Market. Findlay’s is the oldest public market in Ohio and reminds me a lot of North Market in Columbus. There were so many amazing building murals and great doorways to photograph so Beth had to put up with a bajillion pictures (the perils of hanging around a blogger).

So talk to me about the gift of time in your life. What has time allowed you to do, overcome, or become?

love, elizabeth

Girl Confessions

Alright, Sunday. I have a confession to make…I have been trying to write this blog post in my head since yesterday and stuff’s just not flowing like it should.

1. My to-do list keeps getting longer without ever getting shorter. This does not speak well of my productivity or motivation.

2. Never watch Mad Men when you’re trying to fall asleep. Last night I dreamt about an ad campaign that combined perfume and eating by the pool that Betty Draper was somehow running. And then I turned into Betty Draper. Yeesh.

3. I’m nervous to be going home. I haven’t been back to Colorado since we moved out here and I am anxious about it. I’m nervous to see people. I want them to be proud of me, to think I’ve done well, that I haven’t let myself go or changed too much or not enough. I don’t know. It’s freaking me out a little.

4. I’m on a quest to like my hair again and trying really hard not to just be sad every time I look at how short it is. So I’m experimenting to find something to love about this haircut. Any tips?

5. I really need to be reading faster. My candidacy exam is going to be here faster than I can possibly imagine and I am so not ready.

6. My neighbor Melissa is moving to South Carolina in a few weeks and I am so freaking sad about that. I am reallyreallyreally going to miss her.

Also, she would be super mad if she knew I posted this picture. So…Melissa…if you’re reading this…hi.

7. I’ve had less desire to blog this month than normal. Maybe it’s the lack of stress I suddenly feel. Maybe it’s the lack of structure in my summer days. Maybe I’m feeling reluctant to be vulnerable lately. I’m looking for my spark. Maybe I’ll find it in Colorado somewhere.

So what’s your girl confession this week?

love, elizabeth

A Weekend with Kate

Kate flew out from San Diego last weekend to see me and I wanted to share some of my pictures. She decided by the end of the weekend that anyone who enters my apartment should be required to sign a photography waiver. But she was a great sport about it and let me take about a gajillion pictures of her! Here are a few of my favorites…

Kate hadn’t had real snow in the past two years because she spends most of her time in sunny San Diego. Don’t you feel bad for her? Actually, you should probably feel bad for her. I made her stand outside for a long time while I snapped these.

Isn’t she beautiful?

When Kate and I were in middle school and high school, we were in a girls’ ensemble choir at church. Our wonderful director (and growing up, our second mom), Tammy, lives here in Ohio now. On Sunday afternoon, we dragged her out to the Franklin Park Conservatory with us to see the beautiful orchids, but mostly just to talk her ear off…so fun. I can’t even tell you how many of my high school memories revolve around choir sleepovers at Miss Tammy’s!

And one of me…to prove I was actually there…

I actually took a whole big bunch at the conservatory and I’ll post some of those tomorrow! Tammy and I are both pretty hardcore shutterbugs and poor Kate had to follow us around for an hour or so but I think she had fun, anyway.

Thank you, thank you, Kate for flying all the way to little old Columbus for me and thank you, Tammy, for coming out in the cold February afternoon with us!

love, elizabeth

The Newlywed Game

A few nights ago, we had some new friends over for dinner and board games, Danny and Janelle! This last summer I found a game from 1986, the board game version of the television show, The Newlywed Game.

Janelle and Danny are actual newlyweds (they got married in October) and they had such a great sense of humor about this ridiculous game…

After awhile, all we did was crack up at the silly outdated language on the cards and count every single time the card referenced “making whoopie.” Hilarious.

It was such a fun night and it made me want to make more time to play board games! What about you? What board game are you playing lately? What’s your favorite game to play with other couples?

love, elizabeth

Making My Own Sunshine

Source: Uploaded by user via Elizabeth on Pinterest

Yesterday, I talked about suffering from seasonal affective disorder (you can read that post here).

I want to talk about fighting it. I have to consistently remind myself that while the weather is out

of my control, I can exert control over some pretty important things. I call it my battle plan.

Eating right. Part of my effort to fight SAD this winter is to make a conscious effort to eat good,

high-nutrition food instead of blowing through empty carbohydrates in an effort to control my

mood (especially in the evening). I started Weight Watchers just before the new year and so

far, I’ve felt really successful at managing my mood swings and cravings. WW is great for me

because I don’t feel like I have to deny myself when I’m hungry but it’s great for helping me

determine portions.

Creating safe refuge space. Keeping the apartment neat and the clutter to a minimum keeps

me from feeling overwhelmed at night (when I’m more likely to be depressed and anxious).

Comforting scents. Along with some woodsy, cozy candles, I’ve been using more scented

lotion this winter. I’ve noticed that smell has a lot to do with my mood. And though I tend to

stay away from fruitier or more tropical smells, I’ve been using lotion with coconut in it because

it reminds me of sunscreen (and inevitably, the beach).

Strategic lighting. I avoid fluorescent or harsh lighting at night and instead opt for softer lamps

and candles after dark. I’m also trying a combination of grow/sun lamps for short intervals in lieu

of actual sunshine. Eventually, I may have to try professional light treatment through my doctor

but I’m going to try this for a little while first.       

Not leaving important decisions/difficult work for late at night. As a grad student, this is difficult

but I’m trying to change my study habits to manage my depression.  

Making fun plans with people. It gets easy to isolate myself in the winter but I’m working hard to stay

involved with friends and make time for fun outings with Kyle and other couples.

And if all else fails…fantasize about how amazing spring break is going to be in Myrtle Beach.

If I close my eyes tight enough, I can almost feel the rays. March can’t come fast enough.

Source: imgfave.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

love, elizabeth

Company

We spent the first half of this weekend with our best friends, Beth and Zach, who came up from Kentucky to visit us. We haven’t had a chance to see them since the end of the summer and we were so excited to spend some time…

We ended up at one of our favorite spots, B.D.’s Mongolian Grill for lunch…

And Beth let me drag her to the Yellow Sale at Bath & Body Works (I have a problem…I realize).

And while the boys went out and saw Mission Impossible, we painted our nails (I’m a recent fan of J. Crew’s electric pink…) and watched the greatest romance of all time, The Notebook.

Uh, PS: Henceforth, we are replacing the word ‘hot’ with ‘Ryan Gosling.’ As in, ‘Wow, it is so Ryan Gosling outside…we should go to the pool!” or “Dang, you’re looking real Ryan Gosling today. Have you been working out?” or “These chocolate chip cookies just came out of the oven and they’re still pretty Ryan Gosling. Do you want some milk?”

I’ve been a little sad since they left this morning but so, so thankful for the time together.

Bonus of having company? The house is totally clean. How has your weekend been so far?

love, elizabeth

Celebrate Everything

Continuing my commitment to celebrate the little things, here’s my weekly celebration list:

1. A cup of tea with my friend Rosie. We had the loveliest conversation.

2. Losing 3.2 pounds this week.

3. A spontaneous date with my husband. I didn’t even realize how much I was craving his undivided attention and advice.

4. Starting the compilation of my candidacy exam reading list. This may sound silly – celebrating a list I haven’t even finished writing (let alone reading) but this one was weighing on my mind and just getting started makes it seem less scary.

5. The Yellow Sale at Bath and Body Works where stuff in the store is up to 75% off. This is a trivial one but I scored some really happy-scented lotion and some cozy candles. Smell is a big one for me, especially in the winter time. My new favorite? Strawberry Sparkler. (Girls, the travel-size is $1.25 online right now…just saying…)

Well, there we go. Operation: Celebrate Everything continues…

Source: bwcheesecake.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

What about you? What are you celebrating this week?

love, elizabeth

Am I Lonely?

Last week, I read this post by Jennifer over at There is a Season and it reminded me of a strange moment I had over the last holiday weekend. Kyle had gone to work and I was decorating the Christmas tree, alone, in my big fuzzy red slippers, listening to Michael Buble on repeat. I had had plans to spend time with a friend for the evening but she had cancelled at the last minute and as I strung string after string of lights, I began to feel sorry for myself. I imagined how fun it would be to decorate with someone else around. I turned up the music. I made a mental list of all the people in Ohio I could call and ask to hang out. It was a short list. I danced around a little. I imagined Kyle not at work but sitting on the couch telling me how pretty everything looked. I had a conversation with the dog. I moved the Christmas tree three inches to the left. Two inches to the right. And then I blurted the question right out into the stillness of our apartment. The question I had been dreading asking.

"Am I lonely?"

No one answered.

Source: 500px.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

The point of this post isn't really to say that I'm lonely. It's a more of a realization that I haven't been taking stock of my own feelings. I'd been so busy rushing around, filling up the day, I hadn't taken the time to consider what sort of heart-hole I was trying to fill.

What about you? Had any surprising realizations lately?


love, elizabeth

Inspiration of the Month: Kate

Well, now that October is almost over, it’s high time for another inspiration of the month! Meet Kate.

Kate and I have been friends for eleven very full, very exciting years. We’ve seen each other through some of the worst and best moments of our lives (Kate was my maid of honor five and a half years ago!).

There are so many inspiring things about Kate but here’s a biggie on my list…

Not only is she an amazing career woman and amazing friend, she’s also an amazing wife to a United States Marine. If you’re in the military or married to it, you know what this means.

Long separations, weird hours, lots of moves, some extra worry, and a great deal of sacrifice. I’ve been so thankful to get to keep up Kate and Garrett’s love story over the past few years. As Garrett prepares to deploy, I know they are spending as much time as they can together and preparing for this new part of their love story. Kate and Garrett have a saying that’s been with them since their wedding ceremony…“Stuck together until the end of forever.” It’s become a playful reminder of a very serious commitment. “You married me,” Kate tells him. “That’s it. It’s in the fine print. There are no loopholes. You’re stuck with me!”

Five Fast Kate Facts

- Kate loves dogs but she became a cat person in college. Her cat, Boo, is the second love of her life.

- Her first kiss was in the choir room in 8th grade while practicing a song for the talent show. Uh-huh. Practicing.

- She prefers popcorn to chocolate.

- Kate went skydiving a few years ago. When they threw her out of the plane at 17,500 feet, she cried. She totally wants to go again.

- Halloween has special significance in her love story so she and Garrett went to three haunted houses on their wedding night. Sexy.

You should definitely go follow Kate’s sweet blog, Love Not Distance where she shares her triumphs and struggles as a young military wife. She makes me laugh and I love her honesty and practical applications of love.

Who’s inspiring YOU lately?

love, elizabeth

Mozart’s Bakery and Piano Cafe

On Saturday, my friend Francesca and I stopped in at one of my favorite eating-spots in Columbus. Mozart’s is an Austrian-style bakery and café with live piano music and a menu to die for.

Strawberry champagne cake

Fruit tart

Mozart’s specialty, the marzipan peach.

If you’re in Columbus, Mozart’s is worth stopping in for a cup of tea just to hear the music.

We sat by the Mozart statue. I think he was a little grumpy that afternoon.

Francesca holding our pastry boxes

This is probably one of my favorite Columbus spots, for atmosphere alone. But the food is good, too, and not overly-priced. Francesca and I are coming back here to have their traditional afternoon tea at some point.

What about you? Anyone have a favorite tea/coffee/bakery spot in their city?
love, elizabeth

PS: On September 23rd, in honor of the first day of fall, I will be announcing my next giveaway! You are not going to want to miss this one…I keep trying to figure out how I can enter and keep it for myself.An alias maybe?