Oh hello there…

Erm so yeahhhhh hi!  I know it’s been about 2-3 months since I’ve posted…but to be fair, a lot has been happening!

1. New job.  Guilford College = amazing
2. 28th birthday, yay!!!!!
3. 2 baby showers, 2 weddings = end of March/April4. Beach trip for Kasee’s birthday!
5. New niece, Amaya Elizabeth comes to the world!
6. New friend-nephew Jacob Alexander comes to the world!

Shoo.  Busy, eh?

But now, summer break is here!  Since my position is (thankfully) a 10 month position, this means I have 2 months over the summer to…well, anything!  Here are some of my goals/plans for the summer:

1. Get in shape!  Yoga & gym time as a routine.  Self-care, baby!
2. Clean/decorate house.  We’ve been here about 6 months, so it’s time to really make it homey!
3. Play with those two new adorable babies mentioned above!
4. Visit family 🙂
5. Cook!  I recently got into Pinterest, and sooooooo many good recipes 🙂

Annnd maybe I’ll blog a little bit more (tho truthfully, I am not listing that as a goal because…wellllll, not too successful with that one, eh?).  I have decided to the the #100happydays challenge, really as a mindfulness exercise, so perhaps I shall include periodic updates of that on the blog 🙂

Regardless, I hope you are having a good summer!  Enjoy the beautiful weather!

One more week…

So it seems every time I plan to start getting back into the blogging thing, life takes a hold and throws new (and exciting) challenges my way…

Por ejemplo, tomorrow will mark the last week of my employment with RHA. And a week from tomorrow, I will start a new job with Guilford College.

I am SO excited. 

I am also quite exhausted.

Y’all, job changes are difficult.  Even when they are entirely positive and something you have been waiting for a loooonnnng time.  But the past month at my current job has been the most stressful yet. 

So, sorry for the lack of posting, but trust that there is much happening beneath the surface 🙂

Happy Valentine’s Day!

In honor of wishing you & yours a day full of love, here are some quotes:

Friendship is born at that moment when one man says to another: “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .” – C.S. Lewis

It is not a lack of love, but a lack of friendship that makes unhappy marriages.- Nietzsche

I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where. I love you simply, without problems or pride: I love you in this way because I do not know any other way of loving but this, in which there is no I or you, so intimate that your hand upon my chest is my hand, so intimate that when I fall asleep your eyes close. – Pablo Neruda

Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. – Laozi

We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love. – Robert Fulgham

There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature. – Jane Austen

Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love. – Rainer Maria Rilke

One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving. – Paulo Coehlo

And, in the spirit of loving, check out this awesome video about loving yourself:

Have a lovely day & weekend!

Beginning Again

Today, I made it to yoga for the 3rd time this week.

And it was awesome.

This whole week, yoga has felt wonderful.  And I am so, so, so thankful and relieved.  I have more energy and motivation in my practice than I’ve had since at least the beginning of November.

(And truthfully, it hasn’t felt this awesome probably since some point over the summer, or possibly even the year before.)

But!  It feels awesome!  And I think it was an excellent reminder that it is well worthwhile to listen to your body and your needs.  I needed to rest for the majority of November, December, and January.  And I got pretty darn discouraged. I was starting to really beat myself up, and feel super out of shape and just not “good” at practicing.

Yet, of course, my body had its own wisdom.  The rest was needed, and the extra weight or hibernation cushion was not that big a deal.  And now that I am finally actually *rested*, I am enjoying the practice again.  I am feeling strong again, and I am noticing the mental & emotional benefits more and more 🙂

Also, it’s a good reminder that this is all a practice.  And it’s always starting fresh.  Where you are today is not where you will always be, and one rough day does not mean it’s time to give up and walk way completely.

Come back to square one, just the minimum bare bones. Relaxing with the present moment, relaxing with hopelessness, relaxing with death, not resisting the fact that things end, that things pass, that things have no lasting substance, that everything is changing all the time—that is the basic message. – Pema Chodron

Oh, the Glorious Weekend!

Like many folks, I came down with some kind of terrible illness at the beginning of this week, and have been ever-so-slowly trying to recover the rest of the week.

So consequently, while I want to write a blog post, my brain is still a little clouded and not functioning properly.  I’m going to be lazy brief but committed to my goal of still writing, and share some things that are making me super happy this week (again, sorry for the blatant theft Pop Culture Happy Hour.  I know you would approve!)

1. I started Brene Brown’s latest book, Daring Greatly.  Which I’ve owned for probably at least a year and am just now getting to.  But it is WELL WORTH IT AND I AM SO EXCITED AND LOVE HER SO MUCH!

2. Last night, I wandered around Barnes & Noble and purchased two new books: Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened.  Y’all…if you haven’t seen the Hyperbole and a Half website, do yourself a favor and please do.  Also, just for pure fun/escapism, a book called A Discovery of Witches. One of the reviews compares it to Harry Potter and Twilight for grown ups (a. HP totally already IS for grown ups b. nothing is comparable to HP c. I hate when people lump HP and Twilight together d. I still was intrigued/hopeful enough to buy he book)

3.  I finished all of the Scandal available on Netflix and can officially officially say I am thoroughly enjoying this show.  Thank you Shonda Rhimes.  Now, Hulu, about you only having episode 6 and later of the most recent season…

4.  We have a lovely weekend at home planned with things more or less completely finished at the new house!  (some pictures still need to be hung, but we are scared of the plaster walls and just tired; plus, our washer is temporarily kaput which is unfortunate.  I am beginning to think it is not in my destiny to have a working washer in my home. Sigh.)  While we had a wonderful trip to see the Queen, my grandmother, last weekend and got a chance to talk with her and completely relax, it is always nice to be at home – especially after a crazy long week!

5. I am hopeful that if I continue to feel better that tomorrow I might give yoga a go again?  We will see!

I hope you all enjoy your weekends similarly 🙂

New Year Update!

Happy (Belated) New Year all!  I hope you enjoyed ringing in 2014 with loved ones, and that you are enjoying what January has brought so far!

New Year’s actually is one of my favorite holidays – and one of my favorite times of year.  I love the ritual of honoring the past year, and the hope that comes with planning for the next one.

The past New Year’s was especially fun, as I was able to celebrate it with so many loved ones in my new home with Christopher.  While it was a bit of a difficult push to get completely unpacked and decorated for the party while in the midst of the holidays after not moving in till the 14th (annnnnd truthfully there are still some odds & ends to wrap up around the place that are currently indefinitely on hold as we are still in recovery mode from the insanity that was December) it was wonderful to a) get it mostly done b) host for loved ones again!

Below are some photos of the event 🙂

 

Now we are exhausted, and ready to relax & settle into the new year!  Back to yoga, healthier eating, grocery shopping, laundry, reading, and, of course, watching Netflix (Scandal is AH-MAHZING!)

“Hope/Smiles from the threshold of the year to come,/Whispering ‘it will be happier’…” – Alfred Tennyson

In case you missed it…

Merry Christmas Loved Ones!

Once again, I have completely failed at sending out actual, physical Christmas cards.  I assure you I have been thinking about each of you and desperately meaning to do so!  However, as the season has become surprisingly busy (more on that later) I have accepted that I won’t have anything postmarked within a reasonable time-frame.  But I still wanted to reach out, say hello, give you a little update, and let you know I am thinking about you 🙂 Perhaps next year I will achieve my goal and return the favor of all the beautiful cards you have sent to me over the years!

 

Part of the reason I fell behind on my Christmas spirit agenda this year is that I recently moved!  Many of you may know that I began dating Chris Jacques last year after our mutual/awesome friend, Marissa Daniel, introduced us.  It’s been a wonderful year, and things have been going really well!  We decided when my lease was up on November 30th this year that we would move in together.  While we were originally planning to move on November 22nd, the apartment we fell in love with wasn’t quite ready by then.  Consequently we did not move until December 14th (many many many thanks to Katie & Daniel Muto for all their help, as well as Alex French & Chris Bujnak!), and the settling in and blending of two apartments while working has just been more time-consuming than we anticipated!

 

Still, we are so thankful to be moved in and to be unpacking and nesting a little.  We are hosting a New Year’s Eve party to really break the place in – which is also a good deadline to keep us working hard!

 

Aside from the move, we’ve been busy with just regular ol’ work, visiting family and friends, and enjoying all that Winston-Salem has to offer!  My company went through a huge merger/buy out in April, so I am doing most of the same work, but for a new agency!  I work as an Outpatient and School-Based Therapist for RHA Behavioral Health Services.  Primarily I work with community mental health (i.e., Medicaid & state-funded insurance), and more kids/adolescents than adults.  Chris accepted a promotion this year to work as an insurance adjustor for National General Insurance (formerly GMAC) and we’ve both been adjusting to many work role changes. 

 

Throughout the year, I’ve been thankful and felt blessed to hear from you, as well as share in the incredible things that each of you is doing.  This year seems to have been full of many joyous events – new jobs, new degrees, weddings, engagements, moves, births, and new babies on the way!  I know there have also been many trials and difficult times this year as well, but I am also thankful for the time we share in those.  Please know if you are receiving this message, you are in my thoughts and prayers at all times, whatever may be going on, and I am always happy to hear about what is happening in your world 🙂

So, all that said, I hope you have a wonderful, safe, and meaningful holiday season, and that you get to spend time with those you love & who love you!

Love,

Brittany

PS Now that I officially have a guest room, please be advised that you may contact me to schedule a visit a your earliest convenience 😉

The Waiting Place

A few years ago, one of my most beloved mentors, Dr. Barbee Oakes, sent a beautiful email entitled “The Waiting Place”.  It is a simply wonderful piece, and periodically my mind returns to it.  (I will post it on a separate page for your reading pleasure, because honestly any summary I try to come up with doesn’t do it justice 🙂 – love you Mama B!)

All that to say, currently my mind is returning to this piece for multiple reasons:

1) I am finally in one of the Harvest Time sections, and it is truly wonderful.  I was in a very looooonnnnggg waiting place regarding dating and singledom, and I am feeling incredibly blessed to be in the relationship I am in.  A year ago, I could not have imagined being about to move in with anyone, and definitely didn’t know anyone like Chris existed (hint: He’s pretty wonderful)

2) However, we are currently in very much of a waiting place as regards ACTUALLY moving in together.  We were supposed to move in the weekend of November 22nd…and didn’t.  Then we were going to move in the weekend of November 28th…and then didn’t.  And then we were supposed to move in this weekend…and didn’t.

Honestly, I can’t complain too much – our friend/landlord has been wonderfully reasonable about everything and working really hard.  There truly have just been some big hold-ups that were completely unexpected (car accident, weather, damage from former tenant).  And truly, it is going to be wonderful once we actually move in.

Annnnd currently we are living in Chris’ apartment with loooootttsss of boxes and most of our things packed up.  In fact, most of our stuff has been packed up for the past 2-3 weeks.  Which is kind of stressful.

However, the waiting has given me ample opportunity to practice thankfulness and gratitude.  For instance, I still *have*housing.  Christmas is coming, I have a wonderful family, truly fantastic friends, and an incredible boyfriend.  I am more financially stable than I have ever been.  And there is SO much to look forward to in 2014.

Also on a positive note, I’ve gotten back into yoga!  I am participating in the “TurkeyClaus Challenge” my studio is doing, to get 12 classes in between Thanksgiving & Christmas…I’ve only done 3 so far, but I feel pretty confident that I can make it!

So, waiting isn’t so bad…especially given the Advent Season and hopefulness it brings.  I am thinking of you & yours, and wishing you much hope no matter what you are awaiting!

You’ve Got the Love I Need to See Me Through

Oh, Florence + the Machine…you are the most excellent soundtrack for times of transition and longing.

Of which there has been a lot lately.  My head is kind of spinning.

Probably the biggest upcoming change is that I’m moving (yes, again).  Hopefully for awhile longer than just one year – moving is the worst, amirite?  I have had to move once each year for the past…four years (including this year/move).  I am so over it.

However, this is ultimately a very good and exciting change!  I am moving into what is essentially my dream apartment, AND get to live with Chris.  Plus, no more drug dealer neighbor (sorry, Mama, won’t go into details.  I’m safe and sound tho don’t worry!).  No more having to figure out the logistics of who is staying where, transportation, if my shampoo is in the right place, etc.  We took our time with the decision, and have had lots of time to adjust to it, so I am feeling confident (read: always anxiety ridden and semi-terrified, but in a mostly good & happy way).  And did I mention excited?  While it might seem crazy to be moving the weekend before Thanksgiving, it does mean that almost right away we’ll get to decorate for the holidays and prepare for delightful celebrations with family & friends!  Frankly, I can’t think of a better way to christen the new place, or a better place to ring in the New Year!

Still, moving is just plain ugh.  I think for me I really am affected by whether or not I feel settled in my environment…so having things in boxes – and pictures off the wall – has left me feeling fairly scattered and just generally stressed. I will be relieved when everything is in the new space and I can start doing one of my favorite things – NESTING.

So, while it’s been a bit of stressful week (and I am getting the sense that it was for everyone?) I am mostly feeling thankful, and more and more relieved the closer things get to being settled.  Plus, I feel like I saw lots of wonderful things on the internet that actually made the week a bit easier to get through…I think I am going to steal from my favorites at Pop Culture Happy Hour (excellent podcast if you don’t listen already) and close my blog posts with what’s making me happy this week:

1) Dinovember.  Just awesome.  I want to be this cool as a parent.

2) Batkid (duh)

3) This adorable child

4) The Harry Potter series.  Just…always.

5) My Big Fat Greek Wedding (and Chris’ reaction to it)

6) Florence + the Machine (obvi)

And, now I get to take a break from the stress of packing to go celebrate with some wonderful ladies in Boone, NC!  Have a lovely & safe weekend all!  Please keep me & mine in your thoughts & prayers over the next few weeks, and I’ll do the same for you & yours 🙂

Because Lists are Wonderful

I recently stumbled upon this Buzzfed list about “21 Comics that Capture The Frustrations of Depression”, and just found it fabulous.

And I had a number of intentions of writing a real blog post, but am feeling a little too tired to actually do so, so instead I will leave you with this wisdom from other more talented bloggers than myself…Comics About Depression