joie de vivre-- a cheerful enjoyment of life & an exultation of spirit.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Up In The Air.

Hello dear friends. My apologies for things being so quiet around here as of late; despite my radio silence, I promise I am in fact alive & well. You see, life has kept me on the move these past few weeks-- 7 cities in 15 days, whew-- and finding some time to pop in to say hello has been far more difficult than I sincerely wish it had been. So while I take today to do my best in crossing off a host of to-dos before jetting of, yet again, tomorrow morning, I thought I'd share a bit of what life has looked like from my lens as of late.


I promise I'll be back to regular posts next week once I find myself with a bit more time (and a guaranteed internet connection), but until then, wishing you & yours a wonderful weekend ahead.

xox

Thursday, May 10, 2012

A Gift.

Beside my bed lies a long, white windowsill. A windowsill which for ten months laid bare and empty, just begging to be filled. A windowsill which, for those same ten months, served as a constant reminder of just how far I still had yet to go in truly making this space of mine exactly that-- mine. But these things take time, and I knew that a home was not created simply by one's living in it. But as of last week, I got one step closer. For through a serendipitous turn of events, that long, lonely windowsill became home to an incredibly beautiful collection of books-- a gift bestowed upon me through the thoughtfulness of dear, dear friend. A gift that was given simply because.


And while I could go on for pages pouring over the details of those beautiful covers and bindings laced with gold thread, what I love most about this gift is the significance embedded within-- that special reminder of a dear friend who, despite having roots all the way in St. Louis, has woven a piece of her heart into my life here in Brooklyn and found a way onto that windowsill in a way that a simple picture or card couldn't possibly compare.

And so, with that-- many thanks to you, Miss Cait! Beyond this sweet gift, your kind heart means more than you'll ever know.
xo

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Life Lately.

Sorry for the silence as of late, friends. Life has been busy. And hectic. And totally crazed. But it's life, and as it usually does, it goes on. And thank goodness for that. Here are a few quick snapshots from the brief moments of peace I've found myself with over the past few days--


1 & 2 -- My apartment has been overrun with boxes as of late. Between new bedding (huzzah!) and some furniture for the patio (extra special huzzah!) I feel like the past week of my life has been lived amidst mountains of cardboard. Regardless, I pulled out the handy man tools and got to work. And I'll tell ya, it's amazing the things you discover you're able to do when all of a sudden you realize love seats and end tables won't magically assemble themselves.
2 & 3 -- This past weekend found me in Philly for the Broad St. Run: a 10-miler I wasn't entirely prepared or trained for. Regardless, crossing that finish line in one piece felt pretty darn awesome. Oh, and that bowl of delicious bolognese I indulged in afterwards? Yeah, that wasn't half bad either. Amen for carbs. (And delicious, Italian carbs at that.)
4 & 5 -- With a few hours to spare before catching my train back to the city, mom and I wandered on over to Philly's Redding Market for an afternoon of perusing stalls and wishing we had room in our bellies for more treats.
6 & 7 -- As I boarded the USS Intrepid on Monday for an incredible conference spent alongside some of the foremost leaders and thinkers in the Veteran's space, I couldn't help but think how truly lucky I am to be able to do what I do. And as if listening to panels moderated by the likes of Tom Brokaw, Katie Couric, and Brian Williams weren't enough to give Monday a gold star all on their own, schmoozing beneath fighter jet wings and beside giant helo blades definitely counted for something.
8 & 9 -- Some incredibly thoughtful gifts from two dear friends of mine. I can't even begin to express how blessed I am to have individuals in my life who both know & treat me as well as my friends do. Now, time to whip up some of that delicious Derby Pie and spend the night getting lost in a good book.

Hope you all have been well!
xox

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Mixtape. (No. 7)

I woke up this morning to a world of grey. Up above me, beautiful wisps of silver and white swirled while the clouds curled in unruly patterns across the sky. Just outside, small raindrops were beginning to catch on the windowpane, sliding in familiar patterns as they grew larger in their downward tumble. The air was crisp & the chill, refreshing. I breathed in deep, slowly letting the cold awaken my lungs.

It was the makings of another rainy day here in New York; but I didn't seem to mind. No, not today.

You see, just around the bend, there's a busy schedule waiting for me. A schedule laden with travel, an agenda of early morning flights, and a life restricted to 3oz bottles of liquid. There is a lot of time to be spent on the road, a lot of hours to be logged in the in between. And in this moment, the thought of those nine separate flights and train rides is proving to be nine too many.

So for now, I'll enjoy the grey. I'll take in the rain and the subtle hiss of the streets as the taxis whiz by, spraying bits of puddle as they go. I'll be glad I'm not leaving just yet. I think that worry is better left to tomorrow.

Today, I'll enjoy the following mix that's made its way to the top of my playlist these past few weeks. It's an assortment of eclectic tracks that I've had circulating for a while now, but there's something oddly perfect in the way they've come together here. Today seems to be the day for putting in the headphones and turning up the volume a bit louder than I would have yesterday. I hope you'll do the same.
xo



Ritual Union-- Little Dragon
Fake Empire -- The National
Trojans -- Atlas Genius
Same Mistakes -- The Echo-Friendly
Towers -- Bon Iver
Riding Coach -- 1, 2, 3
Lonely Boy -- The Black Keys
Wolf -- First Aid Kit
Feeling Good -- My Brightest Diamond
Comforting Sounds -- Birdy
Relocate -- Kauf