Sweet Love and Ginger

In My Head

Things I’ve Learned Since College

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This post was influenced by Chrystinas post a couple weeks ago. I loved the idea of it and wanted to do one myself. At this point I have been out of college for over 4 years as well, and a lot has been learned in that time.

Partying get’s old. Yes I said it. I loved my college lifestyle, and even lived it a bit afterward, but the honest truth is creative hobbies, and life pursuits are so much more fulfilling, which leads me to the next thing….

Experiences are worth more than things. I’m by no means saying that you have to spend all your money on a trip to Europe (though that’s really awesome), but my favorite memories are rope swinging into the river in Chucks Hometown, getting stuck in the mud in a back field with friends, adopting Brody, walking on the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, lingering over dinner with Chuck, music and talking over campfires with friends, New year’s mishaps and potlucks, motor bike rides, hiking in the high peaks, teaching friends to cook, etc. I think you get the idea.
There is no comparison. This is something that I am still struggling with, it’s a constant struggle. I see friends with big houses and all of the gadgets and I’m over here with my broken phone, and hand me down clothes, still pinching pennies for that someday house. I will get there in my own time and in my own way. I don’t know their entire story, maybe they have tons of debt, maybe they are just lucky, but how do I know that they are happy? I am happy. I have something to work for that keeps me going and an amazing support system and really that’s all I need.
A good bath and hot tea solve everything. Ok maybe not everything, but taking some time away to think it through and make a plan really do make a difference.
Hangry is a thing, and one should honor it.
 
Just because it looks good on paper doesn’t mean that it is
the best option. This is another tough one for me. I am very much an analytical thinker and I like facts to support all decisions, but sometimes you just need the feels. I’ve made some pretty bad decisions on paper, like taking a new job at a pay cut, moving to a more expensive community to avoid a longer drive, and plenty of others. The thing is that these decisions are the ones that make me happy they reduce stress and to me that’s worth its weight in gold.
Being loud doesn’t always get you what you want. In fact most of the time killing them with kindness gets it done faster and better.
Good food and exercise make all the difference. I will be the first to admit that comfort food is where it’s at, however I have also learned that all the rich, carb loaded bad for you food needs to be balanced out with good wholesome healthy food. Otherwise my body is prone to get sick more, ache more, and I feel bloated and grumpy way more often. Same thing goes with exercise, I definitely don’t need to work out as hardcore as I did in college, but lack of exercise for me means lack of sleep, and eventual
soreness. My body needs at least a weekly workout to be happy.
Retirement must be planned for. Seriously do the math to figure out how much you will need it’s terrifying.
I am not an extrovert, but I need social interaction. After and
when Chuck and I first moved in together I went through a time where I didnt see many people aside from my immediate family, and after a while I started to get grumpy and anxious. Weird right? Chuck is an introvert and is perfectly happy to not see other people that often. In the last few years I have made it a point to have holiday gatherings with friends, game nights, and dinner date nights. I swear these little things make all the difference.
I will never be good at any one thing and that’s just fine. I have so many friends that have amazing talents, whether it be art, music, management, math, or whatever. I will never have anyone thing that I am good at. For starters I don’t stick with anything long enough to ever get really good at it, as a result I am kind of good at a number of things. It took me a while to own this about myself but now I think it’s kind of cool.
How about you anything stand out in your mind as something that you learned since college?

Quarter Year Thoughts

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We are a little over a quarter of the way through the year, and I can finally see some green popping up, and smell sap boiling, which means that the change of the seasons are upon us. I can’t tell you how excited I am for spring, and the rejuvenation that comes with it. I am in a place where I really need to make some serious changes and spring is always a good time for that. Needless to say I haven’t been doing well with my one little word lately.
I spoke a bit before on how last year was what I consider to be a middle year. While nothing exceptional happened, nothing terrible happened either. In the summer and fall of last year got lazy on my fitness and the craziness that has been this New Year has only made that worse. This causes a bigger problem than just being out of shape. I have always been someone who remained physically active my entire life, and I have found in the last 6 or so months that I haven’t been that my entire life seems to be slowly falling apart. I know I’m dramatic, but hear me out.
My body is in a constant state of aches. Really how is that possible? My shoulders are tense, which causes ridiculous headaches, my calves are always sore, and my knee has started to bother me if I sit too long. Let’s not even talk about my lower back, or my feet. Oh! And  the zits, dear god the zits, they are taking over! All this I’m sure contributes to the poor mood I have been in for the last couple months, but I really think the lack of actual activity is causing
that more so. I need to feel some endorphin’s man.
I also need a salad. We do eat salad all year round, because grocery stores supply that, but man what I wouldn’t give for a nice vine ripe tomato and fresh crisp veggies! I love that we have so many veggies in our freezer but I really want to start eating fresh home grown food again. Aside from the veggies I need outdoor time. This summer we weren’t able to go camping or hiking as much as we usually do, and this winter was so incredibly cold that it stopped us from doing much of anything. I feel like I’m going crazy and I can’t wait to get out to the woods!

I guess what I’m trying to say with all this is I haven’t been happy for a while. I need to check back in with my one little word and get back on track. I’m excited that spring is here, and I’m finding the motivation I need again. Besides I have a wedding dress to fit into!
How are you doing with the your goals this year? Are you excited for spring?

I’m Turning 27

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It’s kind of a big deal, at least to me. Turning 25 and 26 didn’t seem like that big a deal to me, I’m still a young 20 something you  know, I’ve got all kinds of time. Now all of a sudden 27 feels old. When you put it in perspective it’s really not, but it feels that way.
I’m finding it really hard not to fall into the comparison trap. So and so has accomplished this, that and the other thing by the time they were my age. What about those young hot shots, writing bestselling books by the time they are 24? Yeah I feel like a turtle just floating on the waves, letting life pass me by.
I have to keep reminding myself that this is not the case. I’m 27 and I have a great job, a good degree, I’m getting married, looking at houses and planning another trip to Europe. These are great things that I’ve done/am doing. For whatever reason I can’t pull my mind away from the rest of those 46 peaks that I haven’t yet climbed, the book I haven’t finished yet, the places I haven’t traveled yet, the fact that I still haven’t learned to surf, and so much more.
I have thought about making a list of things to do before I’m 30, a lot of people have them, but I just don’t think it’s a good idea. Staring down a list of things that put “value” on the life that I have lived up until 30 seems absurd.
Maybe I haven’t made the time to go up 46 high peaks, but I did do a few, and I have hiked all over New England. No, I didn’t run a half
marathon but I can run 8 miles for fun and not be overwhelmed by a training schedule. I may not have learned to surf, but I learned to snowboard, kind of. I haven’t backpacked through Europe, I have spent time with my family, and in the woods I call home instead. I have paid off all of my debt. I haven’t moved up the corporate ladder, because I chose to work for a small company that makes me feel at home. I haven’t published a book yet, but I wrote the draft for one, so
could always become famous after death like Emily Dickenson. I have found love. I adopted a puppy.
I have done a lot. I don’t need a list to tell me that.
I don’t need a list to tell me what I have accomplished when I am still in the middle of building the life I want. I will accomplish things when I accomplish them, if I really do want to accomplish them. If I don’t I’m sure there is a greater accomplishment than something that fits into a line on a sheet next to a check
box in it’s place.

This Year’s One Little Word

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This year I am doing something a little different in reference to my goals and plans this year. I have heard of this concept before and never really felt like it was something that could work for me until now. I am choosing one word to focus on for the year.
This is a big year for me, a huge year, I’m getting married, I’m starting the year off in a new position at work, discussions of house buying are finally becoming real, our next European vacation is in the works. On top of all that I put a lot of work into myself in the last year and I finally feel like I have a line to follow, I finally feel comfortable and have an idea of who I want to be (I won’t say that I know because as life moves forward our dreams and goals change).
2014 was what I call a middle year. Nothing to exceptional happened but nothing too terrible happened either. I think that I was able to grow a lot and learn a lot, which is always a great thing. And honestly I feel like we (Chuck, Brody and I) needed this year. We were able to save so much for
the wedding, the house, and the truck that Chuck just got. We took the time to work on ourselves, Chuck spent a lot of time in the woods, while I worked on the numerous artistic projects that I love. We both made huge strides with our careers. I’m happy with how this year came about, but am looking very forward to next year.
This year I want to build.
 
We are building a family here; a life and a lifestyle. After spending a year figuring out what we want, now it’s time to get there. To do that we need to build ourselves, our savings, our home, our marriage, our life. This year we are going to do this together.
I feels kind of big. Not big in a daunting, kind of scary way but big in an exciting, wonderful, hopeful way.
There are a few things from the last year that I want to carry into this year. I want to continue to build relationships with friends that are far away. I want to keep building our savings (this house that I want so bad, is so close!). I want to build on everything I learned about myself in the last year. I fell flat on my face with anything that has to do with fitness last year so this year it will be a big focus for me to build my fitness (that dress man, I have to get in shape).
This year I want to build my knowledge base. I have a lot of experiments in the works, especially in the garden, and kitchen. Both Chuck and I want to learn how to do a few more things around the house. Obviously with the wedding in the works we are going to build our family.

This is another year focused on ourselves and I’m excited for it. It’s going to take a lot of work, probably some heartache, and definitely some  frustration, but I’m ready for it. I think we are ready for it.

How I Spend my Me Time

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Recently Jenn of Hello Brio wrote a post called How I Spend My Me Time. There after it was picked up my a few other bloggers, and I thought it was a pretty solid idea. I have had a lot of me time lately since you know it’s hunting season, also known as leave your significant other for a stinky cabin in the woods season. Anywho, we are here to talk about me not him so let’s get down to business.
All the questions below were provided by Jenn, and my answers are listed below.
What do you watch or read during me-time?
It changes based on what I have/have not finished on Netflix. Right now I’m watching the Tudors. I also have been known to watch Bones, and random food/farming documentaries. I also have a deep love for magazines, I get quite a few each month so I spend some time flipping through those and my past collections for inspiration.
What do you wear during me-time?
Sweatpants, a t-shirt and slippers.
What are your me-time beauty products?
Ha! Me time is not about beautifying for me. If anything I like apricot scrub, and a good honey face mask. I love the way my skin feels after I put this face mask on. Instructions are below.Avocado & Honey Face Mask
1/2 an avocado, mashed
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice

Combine all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Spread the mixture over face and neck and let set for 15-20 minutes then rinse off.  

Current favorite nail polish?
Eek I don’t paint my toe nails myself. I usually just wait until some event happens and get them done then leave that nail polish on until it chips off itself or the next big event. I also use pedicures for personal rewards, like lasting through a 2 week cleanse or finally putting up a certain weight at the gym.

 

What do you eat/drink during me-time?
Tea! I think this is a given with me. Right now monks blend is my absolute favorite. I find eating during my me time kind of a pain so I usually make my own ramen or go to the standard blue box mac and cheese. Also sushi, there’s a place I can get take out right down the road and it’s awesome.
Current favorite candle?
Right now because it’s the Christmas season I have a vanilla chai candle and a pine candle that I have been alternating.
Do you ever have outdoor me-time?
Yes! Brody loves his weekend long walks. I always consider outdoor runs me time, and in the summer sometimes I go kayaking or read in the back yard. I also consider gardening more me time than a chore because it helps me relax.
Would you ever go see a movie alone?
Probably not. I’m not really a fan of seeing movies in the theater, I much rather prefer the cheaper rental on my own TV with whatever food I want in whatever clothes I want. Besides theaters are always cold, and not everyone appreciates it when I take my shoes off, but let’s face it I’m going to do it anyway.
Favorite online shop?
I don’t shop online much, but right now it’s Modcloth, because it’s where I got my wedding dress, and I’m pretty in love with that.
Anything to add? What else do you do during me-time?

I usually spend my “me time” in the tub, or crafting. I’m a blend of introvert and extrovert so I need a lot of alone time in order to function like a normal human being. Even Chuck knows this, and has in the past pushed me into the bathroom with a glass of wine and a stack of magazines for a bath before I took his head off.

I also want to add that the little guy above is usually hanging around during my me time, and by hanging around I really mean asleep on me in some way shape or form.