Today

Hi! How’s it going?

I am OFF work today! It’s a miracle. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but an unexpected day off is super nice! (As an AmeriCorps member, I only get a handful of days off work!) And actually I’ll be checking our volunteer inquiry emails over the next few days so I guess that’s considered work…

I slept late this morning… until 7:45… and ahh it felt so good. I made a few Cinnamon & Spice Pumpkin pancakes and a fried egg, along with a cup of coffee. Great start to my morning, right? Now I’m sitting on the couch and a sleepy puppy is curled up next to me. (He just did a random kick in his sleep, and he changed the channel! hah)

My to-do list is crazy today. I’ve got phone calls to make, mail to stick in the mailbox, studying for the GRE, going to the Verizon store and getting my phone fixed, haircut, studying for the GRE, grocery shopping (because my family procrastinates), possibly buying a plane ticket to California, using a Groupon for frozen yogurt, cleaning the kitchen, studying for the GRE, watching To Kill a Mockingbird. Ok, so it’s not so crazy, but on a day off from work I can think of many other things I would like to do instead of the above.

What are your plans for today?

A Trip to California

Sometimes, I have this great urge to hop on a plane and fly to California.

(free downloadable print!)

It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, the desire is so great that I can almost envision myself living a nomadic life traveling up and down the Pacific Coast.

I would…

Friday Favorites

It’s that time again, folks. FRIDAY. And you know what that means… random links from around the globe Internet that I wanted to share! Get ready to rumble! Or rock-n-roll. Or read…

Did you know the capybara is the world’s largest rodent? Yeah, fact of the day!

I tried this Lightened Up Butternut Skillet Shells from How Sweet it is, and I am officially in love with butternut squash. Sure, peeling and cutting it was a bear, but the hearty, fall-y flavor was worth it. So good!

“The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak was adapted for the stage in Chicago. I read half the book a few years ago, and really enjoyed the unique point of view and storyline.

Emily Loerke from Today’s Letters posted about camping & hiking Yosemite’s Half Dome. I really want to be her friend. Looks like such fun!

I found out about Threads of Hope, whose goal is to “break the cycle of poverty through strategies that empower the economically disadvantaged.” I just love the concept of helping people in other countries!

Summer, Day 1

Every year, the anticipation of summer is almost palpable.

It’s seen in children’s faces, heard in excited voices talking of grand vacations, and felt in the warm touch from the sun.

Summer.

Gosh, I smile just typing the word.

Summer is my favorite season for a few reasons: it means sunshine and warm weather, summer thunderstorms, my birthday, possibilities of vacation, wearing shorts every day, and doing everything possible outside. I love it!

And every summer it’s the same, I hope for the same things… lots of Durham Bulls games, trying out new restaurants, camping trips, days spent at the Eno River, a tan, going on dates, spur-of-the-moment road trips, grilling out, traveling, new friends, swimming. It seems like, before I know it, summer is gone, there’s no extra spending money, and hardly any of those things have been accomplished. Why does it always happen like that? Summer should be a fun time of year when you get to do things you love to do! (all year round should be like that, but especially summer 😉 But in the busy world we live in, it’s easy to watch days slip by without having done anything special to remember them by.

Today is the first day of summer (although it feels like North Carolina summers start in April!) , and the longest day of the year. Once again, I’ve always had grand plans for this day too… going on a spontaneous trip to a city for the day, spending the day hiking up a mountain, going rock climbing, taking a beach trip to see the sunrise and sunset, braving a river in a kayak, etc. The possibilities are endless!

Instead, I’m spending my first day of summer at work and at a meeting until late. I’ll be lucky if I make it home by 10:00pm! So I’m going to have to squeeze something special into today somewhere. I feel like today the start of summer should be marked by something unique, besides waking up at 5:15 and working all day.

What should I do today to celebrate the first day of Summer 2012?

What are you doing today to celebrate the arrival of my favorite season???

My outfit for the first day of summer: navy & hot pink dress. It’s flowy and bright (and a little short…oops) and I’m hoping the boldness of it helps me stay in a good mood today! 😉