Life Lately // 08

Watching // The Mindy Project. And laughing hysterically through every episode. Mindy is so determined to make her life the best it can possibly be, and always makes the most out of every set back. And I can't not mention Danny–proof that height means nothing with the right attitude (and moves).

Learning // With Skillshare. I signed up for a free 30-day trial, and I've already enrolled in a few courses taught by some awesome folks in the design community–Molly Jacques, Jessica Hische, and Aaron Draplin. Definitely take advantage of this resource if you're looking to brush up on some of your skills.

Baking // Coconut oatmeal cookies (adapted from this recipe). New favorite cookie of life. Even without chocolate. (Though these could totally be dipped in some dark chocolate!) Chewy, crunchy, sweet, salty, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Seriously if you like coconut you will love these.

Life Lately

( Sunrise at the Farm in Decorah. )

I'm back from a blogging hiatus. Between work, travel, and celebrating the holidays blogging took a back seat. I've spent the past few weeks soaking up the holiday cheer. Our redneck Christmas at the Farm was a success, and I enjoyed catching up with family I hadn't seen in a while.

Perhaps the highlight of this holiday was the six-hour game of Heads Up my family played on Christmas night. In the words of my father, my grief. I didn't know it was possible to laugh that hard. That game provided us with memories I'm sure we'll laugh about for decades. ( Notably Max's clue of "tomato" for the word tomato and later his impression of John Wayne; Dad forgetting to change the card and then bowing to do so; and my family's terrible hints for describing scones. )

My holiday was the prefect mix of family, fun, joy, and relaxation ( and over-indulgence ). 

Bring it on, 2015!

Life Lately // 07

Holy November.  I can't believe half of the month is already behind us. Thanksgiving is so close I can taste it, and I'll be 24 in a hot minute. Let's pause while I reflect on that. In the meantime, here's a quick peek at my life lately.

Watching // Parenthood. Perhaps the most underrated show of all time. How come no one recommended this to me sooner? I love that the characters seem real and their issues are raw and semi-relatable. I can go from laughing hysterically to sobbing like crazy in one episode.

Reading // Yes Please. Everyone who reads this book will assume she or he could ( without a doubt ) be best friends with Amy Poehler. This book gives you a glimpse at the real, hilarious, and vulnerable creature that is Amy. She lets you in and exposes you to her true self. I adored all of the stories related to Parks and Recreation and SNL, and appreciated her tales of remorse, divorce, and everything in between.

Cooking // Soup. So much soup. Winter weather makes me crave one thing: warmth. And lately I've been satisfying that craving with my Crock Pot. I've found several recipes on Chelsea's Messy Apron that I've loved. This one and this one turned out great, and I think this one will be up next.

Life Lately // 06

Life Lately // 05

Making  //  Reading  //  Wanting  //  Adoring

Life Lately // 04

My best friend will be saying "I do" in a week-and-a-half. It's been so much fun helping her celebrate this special time in her life. I cannot wait to be a part of their special day – on the beach! 

Last week I attended a one-day creative conference in downtown KC. For a local conference, it was quite impressive. My favorite part was a creative bootcamp workshop where we learned how to overcome a lull on the ideation process and generate ideas in greater quality and quantity. 

That view. Two of my friends moved to the Crossroads and that's the view from their rooftop pool. I'm thinking about renting out their water closet. 

Tuesday nights are now my favorite because I get to play sand volleyball with some fun folks. We already decided to sign up for fall league. 

Life Lately // 03

Happy Monday!
I've been off the blog-radar this past week. I've been swamped at work, and honestly wasn't feeling too motivated to blog about much. My bad. Here's a look at life lately.

Binging

| I've been taking a trip down memory lane and indulging – okay, binging – on episodes of One Tree Hill. I watched it sporadically in high school, and it's just as drama-filled as I remember. It's sort of like the more relatable version of Gossip Girl except still highly un-relatable.

Sipping

| This weekend finally felt like spring. The sun was shining, and on my drive home ( windows down, radio up ) I swung by Whole Foods and picked up a bottle of Argo Mojitea – mint tea, lime juice, and cane sugar – which is super refreshing and the perfect pick-me-up on a nice day.

Obsessing

| You guys remember a week or so ago when I just wasn't feeling like myself? Well, I splurged and bought a new fragrance for myself – which I've never done. But it was beyond worth it, because this Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black perfume is officially one of my favorite scents.

Loving

| Finally! A pair of earbuds that actually delivers. I picked these Yurbuds headphones at Target a few weeks ago and am in love. They actually lock into your ears – without feeling uncomfortable – and stay in for the duration of my runs. Love.

Needing

| A new iPhone. Mine is on the verge of biting the dust. Though I have to say I'm quite impressed with the longevity and toughness of these devices. They put up with a lot.

Listening

| Kings of Leon's newest album, Mechanical Bull, has been one of my go-tos lately. I especially like their song, "Wait For Me." I could listen to Caleb's voice all day.

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