Hitting Snooze

Oh hai, November.

There's been a lot going on. 

I chopped off my hair (pictures to come, I swear!), 

I turned 26 (should I feel like a grown-up yet?),

and just living life.

But,

Did anyone else hit a massive life roadblock right around Daylight Savings Time starting? When the sun goes down, my body feels like it's time to go to sleep. This means that I don't get a lot done before I end up snoozing on the sofa. I'm also in a kind of funky mood all the time.

Can any of you commiserate? I've been thinking about getting one of those sunlight lamps...any suggestions?

Zzzzz...

xoxo

Coco

Let's Talk About Hair

{Photos: 1, 2}

Oh my gosh, you guys.

I have a haircut scheduled for this Friday, and I'm equal parts thrilled and terrified! Thrilled that I'll finally be shedding my shaggy mane, and terrified that I'll make the wrong decision and come out looking even worse.

As you can see above, I'm definitely going shorter. I have multiple motives: I'm tired of having to "deal with" my long hair, and with my new management role at work, I want to look more professional without everyone assuming I just graduated from college. The question is, how short? I'm wavering between a casual long bob (like Aubrey Plaza's) and a chic chin-grazing bob (like Chriselle Lim's). What do you prefer? One of those, or something in between? Bangs, or no bangs? There are so many considerations, I'm going crazy!

Any suggestions for me?

xoxo

Coco

P.S. If you want to see all of my inspirations, check out my pin board!

Saying No

I'm not, by nature, a "joiner". Being an introvert, and afraid of the unknown, I've tended to opt out a lot of things...and regret it later. Case in point: auditioning for any sort of play/musical in high school. I always wanted to, never did, and still regret it to this day. Being a little older and wiser now, I try to step outside of my shy instincts and push my boundaries. 

Joining Find Your Passion Work this year is a great example of that - I was extremely nervous about joining a small group of ladies and putting it all out there, but it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. I enjoyed the group so much that I looked forward to the day when Molly announced next year's Elevate Mastermind, so that I could excitedly fill out my application. But when the time came, something in my gut was holding me back. And this was different from being shy or nervous. Somehow, I knew that this isn't the right time for me. I have more doing, more growing to do before I can fully take advantage of something like Elevate. And I was fully secure in my decision...until I found out one my close friends was doing it. That's when one of my biggest fears started tickling at me: being left out.

I hate feeling left out. It's a weakness of mine, and one that makes me feel very silly most of the time. Despite my best efforts, I can't help but feel like I'm missing out on something huge if my friends go out to lunch without me, or if a few coworkers are chatting in someone else's office. Does anyone else get like this? I feel very ridiculous, yet I can't quell the feeling. I'm working on it, okay?

I'm sticking with my instincts and sitting out this year's Elevate, but there are still a few spots left. Check it out to see if it's for you!

xoxo

Coco

Le Weekend

This weekend has been one the best I've had in a long time.What happened that was so great? 

Well, not much, actually ;-)

This weekend was like a deep breath. An easy, contented passing of time, where I did all the things I want to do, without worrying about what I need to do. With nothing on the schedule (save a quiet gathering with friends last night), I managed to:

Make two(!) Zumba classes

Watch three episodes of The X-Files

Bake 24 scrumptious pumpkin cupcakes

Read 300+ pages of my new library book

Eat lots of candy corn

Burn through half of the yummiest smelling candle

Drink two bottles of my new favorite beer

Online shop for shoes (and only buy one pair)

Finish three lessons on Duolingo

And impulsively check work email zero times.

I've had quiet weekends before, but I generally don't deal with alone time or boredom well, and it usually ends in a big pity party. Not this time! As work gets crazy and my Monday-Friday routine is more rushed than ever, I need to cherish the downtime I get on the weekends. Here's hoping there are more relaxing weekends to come!

How was your weekend?

xoxo

Coco

Happy Labor Day

There are few things more lovely than a long weekend. 

I don't have to go to work today! Hooray!

I predict lots of couch-lazing, pajama-wearing, and reading (I'm loving Lauren Graham's Someday, Someday, Maybe).

Hope you all have the best day!

xoxo

Coco

Fun Facts

My guilty pleasure is sugary-sweet romance novels. I used to be limited by budget, but now that I've discovered the beauty that is checking out e-books from the library, my indulgence knows no bounds. I know I should probably spend my time reading more educational material, but after a long day of work, I'm more than willing to trade education for escape. Some of my favorite authors are Jennifer Crusie, Susan Mallery, and Carly Phillips. (I know, I have the reading interests of a fortysomething housewife.) Any recommendations?

I kind of suck at time management. Namely, making time to develop the dozens of interests/hobbies/projects I've started (or been wanting to start). Take, for example, the sewing machine I bought more than three years ago. A few throw pillows and a couple of tops later, I'm still nowhere near the level of proficiency I dreamed of when I started with those Sewing 101 lessons. The desire is still there, but when it comes to execution? Not enough hours in the day. Also on the list: learning the guitar, writing fiction, picking up my violin again, painting, decorating my apartment, and many more. Any advice for getting things done?

I spend about two hours in the car every weekday driving to and from work, and I spend almost every minute of that time rocking out (seriously) thanks to the Spotify app. As much as I despise my commute, the musical interludes help me de-stress, or at least counteract my road rage. This morning I was feeling a little Jim Croce, but depending on my mood, you could find me belting out Aretha Franklin, Boston, or One Direction. On a sidenote, I made a recent foray into audiobooks, but found they were too slow for my taste. Any suggestions for making long commutes more bearable?

xoxo

Coco

Sunday Night

Isn't it amazing how a day week month can turn around in a single evening?

How saying yes to a table outside, another glass of white wine, 

the most scrumptious steak tartare, the sunshine, 

and house made bread 

can make everything seem all right again?

And, by the way,

I'm so happy we've spent the last year together. 

I'm looking forward to many more. 

Thanks for putting up with all my sh*t.

And, lord, I'm so full, but I guess I could have some ice cream.

I ate the whole thing. Can you believe it?

Good night.

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend.

xoxo

Coco

The Little Things

Despite my best efforts to be a glass-half-full kinda gal, I tend to get dragged down in the day-to-day, and I lose sight of some of the little things that bring joy into my life. 

Signing up for an uplifting, inspiring course.

Ordering a desk for my little "me" corner.

Getting a hint of sunburn from too much fun with friends.

Breaking out my violin after letting it sit in the case for far too long.

Indulging in a night on the couch in front of Hallmark Channel.

Treating myself to a new computer (the old one was going on five years!).

Biting into juicy, red cherries from the Farmers Market.

Happening upon pink peonies - my favorite - at Trader Joe's.

I sure wish I was better at appreciating them in the moment, but taking stock of these little things helps me to see everything in a whole new light.

Do you take the time to appreciate the little things?

Just Do It

{Art: by me}

I mentioned in my last post that my new job is kind of taking over my life. At least during the week, I'm so exhausted after a long day of working (and commuting) that I have little motivation to do anything other than catching Jeopardy and eating dinner in some outfit that doesn't involve a bra. And sometimes (usually) I use that as an excuse for not getting things done in my life. Not the "need to do" things, like paying the bills, or doing laundry, or cleaning the bathroom - although, okay, sometimes that falls by the wayside. But I mean all the "want to do" things, the "I've always meant to do" or "seriously, this is the year I do" things. Despite my best intentions, those are the things that get pushed aside.

You know what I mean?

I've written Post-Its, listed goals, created intentions, made resolutions. But all that planning means nothing if I don't get things done. And my track record, so far, is not that great. But (and here's where I've had a major shift in thinking) I'm not going to beat myself up about it. I'm not going to blame myself, guilt myself, or lament every excuse in the book. 

I'm just going to do it. Do something. 

I'll spend an hour, or even a half hour, each evening, chipping away at one of my things. It won't be perfect, and they won't get done overnight. But, eventually, I will accomplish the things I want to. Write a book, learn the guitar, speak a new language. And if, in the end, one or all of those things doesn't get done, it will simply be because I didn't want it enough. And I'm okay with that.

How do you find time in your life for your goals and hobbies?

Working 9 to 5

{Art: by me}

I've hinted at it, but I don't think I ever fully shared the big leap that I took about month ago: taking on a new position at work. Going for an opportunity that pretty much came out of nowhere, I moved into a totally different part of the business, started from scratch, and knowingly took on a lot more responsibility than I've ever had before. Oh, and bought more suits.

I knew it would be a lot of change. I just didn't know how much. 

My job, and the entire way I think about work, has long been a source of confusion and turmoil for me. I don't doubt at all that I'm still knee-deep in Quarter-Life Crisis, wondering if this is the right path for me, and never fully happy with where my life is right now. I took this new position on a gut feeling, and while I know it was the right decision to make (I'm making a difference, I'm more fulfilled, and I'm learning more than I could have ever hoped), it doesn't make the late nights or stressful weekends any easier. 

It's become a matter of self-preservation to try to figure out a work-life balance, and if this job is teaching me anything, it's first and foremost leading me to make the most of the non-work hours. Hit the "off" switch on work email, read lots of books, eat delicious brunches and soak up sun. Because my job is a big part of my life, but it's not all of it. And until I find the "perfect" solution (because it won't happen overnight), I'm going to do my best to get darned near close to it. 

Are you lucky enough to be in love with your job?

At Weekend's End

{Art: by me}

Weekends are funny things.

They can be both wonderful and frustrating at the same time. I have a bad habit of letting the last few hours of a weekend get to me. No matter how productive I've been, how much fun I've had, how much I've savored and relished each moment of the days, I can't seem to help being in a funky mood once the Sunday-afternoon downtime kicks in.

Suddenly, every second I'm on the couch becomes an audible tick on the clock, counting down to Monday morning and the return to "real life". I'm paralyzed by a storm cloud of panic about every aspect of my life and whether I'm making the most out of every moment of it.

(Oh hi, quarter-life crisis. I see you're still here.)

If you're reading this hoping I've found a solution, I haven't. Since my What am I doing with my life? dilemma isn't going to fix itself overnight, I'm resigned to the fact that one of its side effects - my Sunday night ennui - is going to be recurring for a while. So I have to go with the next best thing: not beating myself up over it.  Whatever I'm doing - going for a walk, catching up on Netflix, munching on a peanut butter cup or two, writing a blog post - it is what it is. It's the weekend.

Do you find yourself with the Sunday night blues? What do you do?

Happy Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope everyone is having the best holiday weekend. Mine has been restful and relaxing - I finally got off my crutches on Friday. (Oh yeah. Did I mention I was on crutches for over a week? I was. It was terrible. And I thank heaven for my man, who never complained about helping me with every little thing, all the time.) So, finally able to get around, I have spent most of the weekend catching up on laundry and running errands, and loving every minute of it.

PBS is re-airing last night's Memorial Day Concert all day today, which I've been catching bits of, until it gets too emotional for me to stand. But however you choose to do it, take at least a moment today to think of our veterans and those serving.

How are you celebrating Memorial Day?

Happy Monday

{Photos: Instagram}

Happy Monday!

This past weekend, I drove down to Charlottesville (the home of my alma mater) with a few girlfriends to drink wine, eat delicious food, and soak up the beauty that is Virginia in the Spring. As you can see from my photos, we ate very well :-) I also came home with several bottles of wine that need to find a home in my tiny apartment...

You can check out more (mostly food) pictures from the weekend on my Instagram. 

What did you do this weekend?

Happy Monday!

{Photo: by me}

Happy Monday, all! 

We arrived home late last night after an impromptu beach trip, and I confess I would rather be in bed reading a book than back at work. Alas, the life of a grown-up.

Hope your weeks are off to wonderful starts, lovelies.

Life is Good

{Images: My Instagram}

There's something to be said for a quiet happiness - the kind that gives a calm to everything, that takes away the panic and discontent and replaces them with a low hum of peace.

I love coming home to our apartment and crashing in front of Dancing with the Stars. I'm all abuzz waiting for my new job to start in a month. I get excited about home-cooked dinners. I'm rejuvenated by trips to the gym. I relish getting a little junior-high fangirl about Drs. Mindy Lahiri and Danny Castellano. I'm energized by long wine-fueled conversations with girlfriends. I can't wait for two getaway weekends lined up in the next month (including one that starts today!). 

It may not be worthy of fireworks or running through the streets. But life is just really, really good.

The Power of Pause

     

{Original image}

Being in my mid-twenties is, shall we say, a learning experience. Those of you who are wise and in your thirties are nodding your heads, murmuring, "I feel your pain, girl." And for those of you still in school, who dream of blissful post-grad life...you'll find out soon enough. While I often struggle with feeling confused, lost, inadequate, and immature, I sometimes notice a nugget of self-growth - evidence of naturally-evolving maturity that reassures me that I am, in fact, growing up. 

One such nugget is something I describe as "the power of pause". It's that second you take before saying something, to ask yourself, "Is this really necessary? Will what I'm about to say contribute in a significant, positive way?" Over the past year or so, I've found myself unconsciously taking these pauses more and more, and when I ask myself those questions, the answer is usually no.

Now that I'm aware of it, I try to pause more often than not. Before commenting on a random Facebook post, or hitting "reply all" on a mass email, or running to a coworker to share the latest gossip, I take a moment to think. Those tiny moments of self-editing, cutting out some of the noise, have also helped give me clarity on who I am, and what's important to me.

Do you practice taking little pauses?

Spring Fever

{Image sources: 1-2-3-4}

A quick jaunt on Pinterest this morning had me seeing beautiful blooms and pops of pink. Spring is right around the corner - here in DC, we got a taste of it this week with temps nearing 60 degrees, and I'm ready to trade in my tights for pastel dresses and delicate flats. Spring can't get here soon enough!

Happy Monday

{Original image}

Happy Monday!

The above "thought for the week" is something that I constantly (and I mean constantly) have to tell myself. Yesterday afternoon, in the midst of the big move, I lamented my inability to not be stressed. When my life is overtaken by chaos, I feel powerless to resist, and I end up being paralyzed by worry and a lack of control. I asked my man how he manages to be so patient and calm, to which he replied, "Well, I'd just rather be happy."

Yes, folks, it really is that simple.

Here's to a happy week!

Happy Friday

{Original image} 

Happy almost-weekend, all.

This week has equal parts flown by and dragged along, for me. Working during the day and trying to slowly move apartments in the evenings makes for mornings that come way too early. I won't be able to rest until every last box is moved and unpacked, every knick-knack is put into place, and all my decorating plans are made reality. (The last one will be a challenge...there might be more "compromise" involved than I had hoped!) Before the box-hauling marathon continues this weekend, we're taking a break with friends tonight to see Contact at the local planetarium. It's one my favorite movies - not only does the subject matter speak to the nerd in me, but when I first saw it, I thought Matthew McConaughey was the cutest thing since ever. Oh, those were the (pre-bongo-pounding) days.

PS. Can I just say, I am lov.ing. The Mindy Project. I want Mindy and Danny Castellano to have babies already. I haven't been this obsessed with a show since my teenaged-WB-watching days, when I would spend hours reading Gilmore Girls fanfiction and...you never did that? Uh, yeah, me neither.

Have a great weekend!

A Nest for Two

 Big news...dun dun dun! In about a month, the boyfriend and I will be bringing our lives stuff together in a little one-bedroom apartment to call our own. It's exciting, scary, thrilling, and yes, a little bit stressful. In addition to paring down all of the clutter we've both amassed over the years, we have the challenge of reconciling two very different style preferences. Living alone has given me the liberty of pink-ifying everything...but no more. It's actually been great fun searching for the right gender-neutral items to make our little nest a home for two. Here are some of the items I have my eye on:

Clockwise from top left: Target Room Essentials duvet cover / IKEA SONGE mirror / West Elm stripe shower curtain / Sauder student desk.

Do you have any tips for decorating an apartment for both sexes?