Necklace Ponderings

I bought this necklace while Christmas shopping {which is the most successful time of year for finding cute stuff. For myself.} I got it because it struck me, and reminded me of sewing, an old flame I had just recently rekindled {more on that later.}

I had 3 thoughts today regarding this necklace:

1 - Anyone who needs a haircut as badly as I do has no business walking around with a teeny pair of scissors strung around her neck

2 - To anyone else in the world, scissors "does not equal" sewing, and I probably look borderline psychotic

3 - The two new interns who started today are probably scared of me

Ah well, so long as it makes me smile, right? Right?

xA

This post is brought to you by the letter "E" - which is currently missing from my keyboard due to a very fresh kitty

I Wish....

I wish I had the time to do this every morning {without the waking up at 6am part}....

but I suppose that's what makes weekends {and Monday holidays!} so special.

Enjoy your today, in every way you choose to spend it.

xA

Okay, I'd love enough time for this every morning too:

Happy New Year

It's finally here, 2012. Since 12 is my birthday, and therefore favorite number, I have big expectations for this year. Specifically for myself. I believe that personal change and growth can occur at anytime, and don't need to be aligned to the beginning of a new year, but the spirit of change is all around us, and I'm welcoming it with open arms.

I've always kind of had this thing against New Years Eve. It's a great holiday and all, but I feel like it's a bit "what are you doing this weekend?!" times infinity. It's generally a lot of hype, and in my cold Boston case, ends in miserably low temperatures, not enough layers and the inability to locate a cab home. This year, I wanted to do something different.

I looked into midnight yoga classes, perfectly timed so that as the clock strikes midnight, you're laying on your mat, eyes closed, feeling utter peace and bliss. This greatly appealed to me, as I wanted to approach this new year feeling zen and relaxed, and not drunk then hungover. I went to sign up for a class in my neighborhood, but it was unfortunately already booked. Feeling bummed, but determined {I'm extremely stubborn once my mind is set,} I found a yoga podcast, and dug out some 90 or so tea lights.

At 42 minutes to midnight, the length of the class, we light the candles, turned off the lights, spread our mats, and began the class. I selected Eoin Finn's Yoga in Bali, which I had done before and loved. His voice is incredibly soothing, and he strikes the perfect balance between motivating speech, and serene silence. Living in close proximity to Copley Square meant lots of background noise out the window, but we were able to quickly tune it out. As the session came to a close, and we were basking in our post-yoga bliss, we heard the crowed cheer as the new year arrived. I couldn't help but feel an incredible sense of well being and peace - exactly the way I wanted to enter 2012.

Yes, this happened:

Up For The Challenge

I've encountered many people in life who question & challenge everything they hear. I am NOT one of them. If you tell me a breaking news story, or an improbable fact, odds are I'm going to believe you. Some might consider it naïve, but I prefer to think of it as sort of romantic, or fairytale-like. I think there's a charm about taking something for face value, instead of automatically discrediting it or feeling compelled to research it.

I was in a position last summer, though, to consider something I had taken for face value since I was young: Superstition. More specifically, walking under a ladder.

I was on my way to a Patriots game, and needed to stop at the atm. My beau pulled over nearby one and I intended to make a quick trip in and out. Propped up against the building that I needed to enter {between me and the door} was a ladder. Without even thinking, I skirted around the ladder and into the door to the bank. While withdrawing some cash though, it occurred to me: was I even superstitious anymore?

It was something I grew up knowing, yet had never challenged. And in fact, I hadn't ever considered it in years. I resolved that on my way back out, I would walk under the ladder, defiant of my young beliefs. I did so without casualty, and didn't suffer any notable bad luck.

It was a silly happening, but it made me wonder: What other beliefs have I been hanging on to?

Who, Me?

People with tattoos have always fascinated me. I feel like in order to do something so permanent, you have to really, really know yourself well. I think a part of my problem is that I could never make up my mind enough to get one. I seriously don't even like stickers for that fact that you have to choose where to put it, and stick {pun intended} to that decision. I had a whole collection of stickers when I was little that were still in the package.

I'm very much a people pleaser, so when I'm in a relationship with someone, it's like I lose a little bit of myself. I'm so focused on what they're doing and what they want, unless I'm with someone really disciplined, nobody is focusing on me.

I'm also a big believer in horoscopes. {I'll pause here for an eye roll...} I know some people don't even know their sign, and some people take it too far in the other direction and won't date certain people because of their sign. I lie somewhere between the extremes. I do check my horoscope daily, and feel encouraged when it aligns with my life at the moment. There was a time a few years back, where I felt so in tune with myself and everything around me. Every day my horoscope reading was accurate. My sign, Leo, is notorious for being able to sense what people around them want, and what will win them affection, attention, etc. For this reason, I'm very intuitive around people, especially those I'm close to, but I'm also in danger of forgoing what I want and losing myself.

I suppose it's a matter of finding the balance, but it makes me wonder why some people know themselves better than others. Does it come down to the way we are raised? Does having a boyfriend or girlfriend with a strong influence over us at a young age do it? Or is it something that just kind of thing that ebbs and flows over a lifetime?

Owl.

It's 10pm. I should go brush my teeth and start getting ready for bed. The whole reason I stayed in tonight was to get to sleep early. I've stayed up late / slept badly all week, and I need to stop feeling tired at work. I should go brush my teeth.

BUT

I just got slammed with a craving for Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Filled Pretzels. And if I'm going to indulge {which I am} then I need another half glass of wine to wash it down. And if I'm having wine, I'm not going to turn off my music just yet. And it's Thursday tomorrow anyway, almost the weekend.

This is why I have barely made a dent in the new book I'm trying to read, and why I have baggage eyes by the end of every week.

Sweetdreams.