Every once in a while, I come up with a random assortment of thoughts and ideas that I want to chat with you guys about, but they’re not fully developed enough for a whole blog post…which means a brain dump is in order! I’ve done them a time or two before, and they’re always fun to write. These posts are completely random, usually just have photos from my iPhone, and are just a random sampling of the thoughts going through my head lately.
Enjoy!
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01 // I had an interesting moment of introspection a few weeks ago when I was riding the train to a conference. I was trying to look out the window, but the light was just right so that my eyes had a really hard time focusing on what was outside the window – all I could see was my own reflection. I had to really think about it and train my brain to look past my reflection and see the beautiful trees and scenery that I was trying to look at – if I lost my concentration for even a second or two, my eyes would re-adjust and I was staring at myself again.
Isn’t life like that sometimes? You’re going through a rough time, and all you can see is what’s right in front of you – the struggles, the frustrations, the annoyances. It’s almost impossible to see the beautiful things happening all around you because all your brain wants to think about is the bad stuff. But with some effort, you can re-train your brain to see the good. You have to work at it- if you lose concentration for even a minute, you may re-adjust and see the bad again. But with enough focus, you can see those trees. It might sound silly, but it was a little revolutionary for me, as I was definitely going through a “staring at my reflection” phase at the time.
02 // Corey and I have started a new tradition in our house – Sunday night movies! Every Sunday night we head upstairs a little earlier than usual and cuddle up in bed for a movie and some cuddles. It’s been a really fun way to connect more intentionally, and we’re finally catching up on some movies that we haven’t seen yet! We’ve watched lots of movies, but the favorites so far are Room, Dark Places, and Moonrise Kingdom. What should we watch next?
03 // Have I told you that Corey and I are going to Haven later this year? I have wanted to go every single year since they very first announced it, and I am absolutely beside myself with excitement that it’s finally happening. I’m already nerding out over all of the DIY blogging celebrities we’ll get to meet, and I will probably embarrass myself when I fangirl all over John and Sherry (although, I did okay last time we met them!)…it’s going to be SO fun and I can’t wait to come back and dish all about how exciting it is.
04 // I’m generally much better about keeping up with exercising during the summer, and so far this summer is no exception. I’ve been waking up and going for a run every morning, and I can’t believe how much I have missed it! It’s so hard to keep up running with during the school year, but I’m hoping next year I can find a way to do it because this is so cathartic. I find that I’m way more productive every day if I get up and do some exercise before the day even begins…and I don’t even miss the extra sleep!
05 // Have you signed up for our newsletter yet? I’ve been having so much fun writing it, and it’s been interesting to see how it’s evolved so far. I’m always open to input, so if you have any thoughts about what you’d like to see, please let me know! I love that it’s an extra way for me to connect with you guys on a more personal level, and it’s been so exciting to watch it grow!
06 // Are you watching The Bachelorette? I’m ashamed to be this addicted to that stupid show but I cannot even contain my love for it. These guys are absolutely nuts, and I giggle like a maniac throughout every single episode. I can’t believe it took me so long to start watching this show! Who is your favorite so far?
07 // We’ve been having a blast so far this summer. We’ve been working really hard to get out of the house and stay busy, and we’re also constantly on the lookout for cheap (or free!) ways to keep ourselves entertained from day to day. We feel so incredibly lucky that we’re both teachers and get to spend the entire summer at home together so we always try to make the most of it! I plan on writing a post in a few weeks about all of the ways we’re making the most of our summer, but here’s a sneak peek of what we’ve been up to (you can see more regular peeks into our days if you follow me on Instagram!):
08 // And finally, if you haven’t heard yet, I’m the newest ambassador for the awesome Realtor.com community, House Talk. I’ve been having so much fun getting to know everyone over there and participating in the forums, and I would LOVE to see some of y’all over there too! Head on over and check it out, and let me know what you think – it’s a growing community, and I’d love to hear your feedback!
What’s been running through your mind lately?
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