Rare snippets.

My step-mom is oh-so-graciously visiting and taking care of us for a  week and because of that I just washed my hair for the first time in a long time.

Most days, with a three-week old infant, I feel like I'm grabbing at straws and strapped to the couch because she only naps well on a human body. Granted, I have two extra hands helping us right now and I just read a little article on how some newborns receive too little love because their parents are stressed/busy/preoccupied with other life issues, but I feel so lucky to have this little one in our care and part of our new family. She's just so beautiful to me and I think {hope!} I'm emerging from the fog that is the First Few Weeks that was made even thicker by my horrible return to the hospital two days after we got home - getting out of that haze of trying to survive I'm finally sensing glimmers of the gratefulness I feel considering how much I had wanted this child and to stay home with her and watch her grow, if only until August 15th or so.

I'm still a bundle of hormones and it doesn't hurt one bit that the blessed little one is currently napping for longer on her own during the day than she ever has, plus the extra hands giving me some respite, so suffice it to say that I don't anticipate waxing this poetic or even having the time to do it come a week from now when we're back on our own, but it feels good to have some solid positive and confident feelings {& a longer shower} even if they last for only an hour.

Wrapping this up, I think the baby universe can and will toss us rightly on our heads many times over from here on out which is why keeping a good sense of humility and humor will do us justice...so I suppose our Go0gle searches of cat GIFs, Jimmy Fallon videos, and Cosby parenting sketches will increase. And that's not a bad thing.
xoxo, natty ♥

Looking ahead.

I don't think I've ever done any thing big on Labor Day weekend {except GET MARRIED ♥} and this year is no exception.

I think of these three days as a chance to regroup after the craziness of the first few weeks of school and to get excited.

I've been mulling over all of the fun things that the rest of the year has to offer {a dear friend's wedding, pretty leaves, pumpkins, hopefully getting our apartment to not smell like old gross, the holidays, family...} and I feel like we have T-minus 48 hours from right now until it all starts happening. Quickly.

Taken last September at Arlington with my mama.

My dad always tells me that time moves so fast for him these days and I can see how that all begins.

Here's to beginnings, happenings, and all the in-betweens. !
xoxo, natty ♥

Gearing up.

It's fixin' to be a busy summer for us and we're currently in a busy little time too so I feel like life's moving pretty quickly {Beuller?}.
Which is fine.
They're all seasons.

But a good magazine before bed makes things a bit easier.

xoxo, natty ♥

Good feelings.

As many am, I'm addicted to caffeine. It's not severe, I just need my two cups a morning, but it's still there.

So for me, that little green light that means I'll wake up to what I need makes me happy each time I see it.

xoxo, natty ♥

Maintenance.

It's one of those busy weeks where I feel like we're just sort of maintaining our daily existence.

Not in a bad sort of way but it's a quick dinner sort of time and that's ok.
That's what tuna melts are for!
I'm also enjoying my NINE amaryllis blooms.

And, as always, Jeopardy. 

xoxo, natty ♥ 

Looking up.

I did something really stupid to get this picture a few weeks ago, but I know that my dad loves getting texted pictures from me and I felt as though this sky was too much to pass by. Literally - I was driving to work.

Filthy windshield.

Poor driving habits aside, there is something irresistible to me about a beautiful sky. There have actually been some amazing ones in the past week. Much better than the monotonous grey that can be so depressing about winter.

In non-cosmos related matters I also am trying to look up {safely!!!} these days. There's just.so.much.to.see.

xoxo, natty ♥

Get me outta this RUT!

I'm in an undesirable holding pattern these days.
In December I got off of my running because I was at home and busy and then I got whatever the he&* it is that made me cough for three straight weeks. And be congested. And ache. And everything else.
Then January was a bit of a cold blur and I had a couple of job interviews. Then I started a new job last week. Then they sent me to Georgia last weekend. And then my body started to remember what it's like to be a teacher, talking and whatnot, on my feet all.work.day.long {just about}.
Mike has been helping a great deal, even though he just began a new semester, but I'm still dragging. 
But I feel gross. I'm not running and on my day off today, I slept. Literally, the nap count surpassed just one which is not something I like to allow unless it's New Year's Day and there's a legitimate excuse {I fell asleep around 10:30 last night, not a bit evening out by any stretch of the imagination}.
So, I'm looking for a bit of accountability. If I get it put down here maybe I'll be more apt to drag my languishing self out of doors for a bit of movement.
Hopefully.
On that note, happy Friday!
xoxo, natty ♥

Guinness says:

Happy Thursday!
In my current gig, Thursday is the new Friday so I'm most certainly feeling the love today.
The little hound joined me on the couch for a power nap before heading to a talk at Mike's school and then a quick dinner.
And now we're home.

Over and out.
xoxo, natty ♥ 

Tuesday, Tuesday.

It has been a day and I got home late so there's not much I can say right now...more later this week!
xoxo, natty ♥

Dazzled.

Y'all, Ive been dazzled.

Y'all.

Savannah, I dare say, is one of my All-Time-Favorite places and I was only there over a long weekend for a work conference; imagine the future trip and visiting possibilities!

These gutter fish {& many other Victorian/Southern embellishments are all over the place in Savannah. The gift shops even sell heavy-duty plastic versions of this guy for you to take home.

 In Other Good News.

1} I made it home safely; something for which I always say a little thanks.
2} It's February!
3} I'm back in education! If you're curious, let me know, I'll fill you in.
4} I'm ready for bed and it's not yet 9 PM; yesterday's travel and such didn't leave me well rested for today and the prospect of my dear old bed is making me downright giddy.
5} There are some more teacher workshops I might be checking out this weekend.

What's new in your neck if the woods Reader? Snow? Sleet? Spanish Moss? 
No matter what, have a fantabulous week!
xoxo, natty ♥

Sitting in a drag show crying.

Tonight, on a whim, we went to Lady Chablis' show. If you've read the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil then you'll know to whom I'm referring. If you haven't, then please read this book {it's one I've loved for a while, far before arriving in Savannah}.
I had a delightful time watching the performers sing and dance and interact with the audience. I laughed SO hard. And as wont to happen to me every once and a while when I have these joie de vivre moments, I started to tear up, y'all! What is up with that? I think that when or if I'm in a moment that finds me just.so.happy and full of life, it spills over. It's not like a sob-fest, just a bit of lacrimal leaking.
Anyway, I'm exhausted and sore-throated from screaming and lauging so happy night y'all!
By the way, we did a ghost tour last night that was an amazing experience, mostly because our tour guide is, in his words, "a historian who went off the deep end 15 years ago." I'll try to recap that experience a bit later.
Let's go Niners!
xoxo, natty ♥

Good Inauguration Day to you!

We lazed around and watched football all day long; good times!
Until tomorrow!
xoxo, natty ♥

Even though...

Even though I've been waxing semi-poetic about this stuff all week {just about}, I'm still thinking about what I really enjoyed in 2012 and what I'm really looking forward to in 2013. I did a full Year in Review for 2012 but I tried to cover the big things that happened and there were so many little things {and a few big ones} that were/are really important to me so I'd like to get them written down.

I've also been thinking about what I'm excited for in 2013. This isn't resolution/goal/"101 in 1,001" territory, rather just selfish "I'm really looking forward to this" type of stuff.

2012
 
1. Wrapped up six years of teaching at my high school alma mater. This was Big for me because, well, it was Big.
2. Planned a cross-country move.
3. Moved across the country.
4. Set up a home in Washington DC.
5. Registered our car {after having it towed once} and got my driver's license in Washington DC.
6. I got a job not-teaching.
7. I decided that I'd have rathered that job be teaching.
8. I visited a few new states, even if we were only driving through.
9. I learned about hummingbirds with my mother-in-law and Rebecca.
10. This goes back to #3 but I need to return to it because it crosses my mind about once a week that what we did wasn't easy nor was it conventional {at least for us}. A move like this, on a budget, doing most of it ourselves {did you SEE our packed car?}...Michael did most all of the planning and he did so beautifully - I am forever grateful that our move went so smoothly with his foresight {except for North Dakota}. I am also, still, very proud of us for making this big and challenging change.   

2013

1. Returning to DC {we're still visiting family and loving it} and getting a job that I like. Hopefully one that gets me closer to being in a classroom again.
2. Doing more exciting things as a couple.
3. Seeing my dear friend Rebecca get married.
4. Experiencing our new home {Washington, DC, in case I haven't mentioned it} for an entire calendar year {and then some}.
5. Making our apartment more homey.
6. Going to Jazz in the Sculpture Garden when it starts up again.
7. Training for a marathon.
8. Getting a Christmas tree! This is obviously something that I missed out on Big Time in 2012 so I'm planning early.
9. Continuing to cook new and exciting dishes and getting really good at cooking just plain old regular {still exciting to me!} meals. I've been loving my time in the kitchen and I am seriously excited about maintaining this trend.
10. Life! It's wonderful! I'd like to embrace it and love it and live it well.

xoxo, natty ♥

2012; a Year in Review.

I'm enjoying some high-octane cough syrup and a Z-pack and thinking about the year behind us. I could drone on, I'm sure, but I'd like to list my top 12 2012 moments/events/things {a blurb for each month!}. 

I've also been thinking ahead. My poor 101 in 1'001 has been languishing since, oh, June {?}, I believe. In hindsight, maybe I should have thought a bit more before compiling that list. When I wrote it last December I full well knew that we were on the verge of some pretty hefty life changes {job quitting, moving across the country, living in a new city...} but I took none of that into consideration and came up with my 101 as if we were going to continue living and working in San Jose, CA.

With that being said, I'm giving myself a pass. This pass is a chance to re-write my list and start over with the caveat that I realistically consider what our life looks like now and will look like in the next 1,001 days {September 28, 2015 FYI}.

For today, and to spare you from volumes of blog-post reading, I'll stick with my 2012 Top 12.

In calendar order.

January

After driving home from an Arizona Christmas and New Years we spent our first month in our new apartment as husband and wife.

I celebrated a birthday. I started making wreaths. We cooked {tortilla soup!} and ate out and just enjoyed being together.

February

Our first Valentine's Day as a married couple saw us to the beach for a winter's day visit. I made heart decorations for our apartment using my mother-in-law's old sewing machine. 

We also ate crab, polenta, and celebrated Mardis Gras.


March

I enjoyed my last Spirit Week {check it out each day} at school, dressed to the nines to coordinate with the five themes, and it all culminated with making my first diaper cake for a coworker's baby shower {it was non-edible}. We celebrated St. Patrick's Day with a meaty and salty feast, went to Arizona to learn about hummingbirds and Spring Training, and then returned to California to get ready for Easter. 

Michael enjoyed a birthday.

April

I graded a lot, we celebrated several birthdays, enjoyed Easter egg coloring, visited the east coast {!}, and cooked a lot. 

We started enjoying some farmer's market finds and began to think about a cross-country move.

May

Michael decided where he'd like to go to school {and where we'd be living for the next two years!!!}: Washington, DC! 

I wrapped up my last school year, we celebrated several graduations, I made another diaper cake {still inedible!}, and we continued prepping for a Big Move.

June

We made the final preparations to move out of our apartment which included selling off all that we could and shipping the rest to DC. 

I began my last teaching stint with a summer school class, we CLEANED with the kind help of my mother, and got ready to say our goodbyes.

July

We celebrated my cousin John's graduation with a fun trip to San Diego before coming back to the Bay Area and officially setting sail. 

We camped for two nights, spent a night in Portland, Oregon, enjoyed a wonderful week in Home, Washington, and then trekked our way across the northern swath of our country to arrive at our new home in Washington, DC. The best part of our journey was being able to visit with dear friends along the way {St. Paul, Chicago, and Hershey : we ♥ you!}.

August

We got settled in DC. Mike began his career as a graduate student and I tried to get us moved into the amazing apartment that we now call home. 

I confirmed a job that would start in September.

September

We celebrated our first anniversary! Mike and I continued to get settled into our new city and got to know our neighborhood and new friends.

My mom visited us for two weeks in which she helped us SO much by cleaning and cooking for her two busy hosts. The Franciscan Monks blessed Guinness in honor of St. Francis and his feast day.

October

We drove up to New York to visit my cousin John at Elmira College; the leaves were beautiful the further north we got! The days got shorter and Hurricane Sandy brought several days of strong wind and rain to DC, though nothing like what New York and New Jersey saw. I signed us up for a CSA.

The Giants won the World Series!!!! And we hosted a fun pumpkin carving party that even included prizes. 

November

For such a short month we did quite a lot! We visited with friends, cooked a great deal of root vegetables {thanks CSA!} and enjoyed time at home. Family came into town for the week of Thanksgiving and we cooked {most of the meal} and hosted our first Thanksgiving!!! We all rolled ourselves to bed that night feeling very content and grateful for good food and even better family and friends.

I wrapped up my job and began to look ahead to teaching again; even though I thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks without grading, in late September I started to think about how much I miss the daily engagement and interaction of being a teacher and that getting back into that classroom is where I'm drawn to.

December 

I continued running and cooking in DC. I also continued looking for teaching opportunities that might crop up in the latter half of the 2012-2013 school year {few and far in between}. We went out with friends and enjoyed being in the city leading up to Christmas. The tragedy at Sandy Hook happened and I, as well as many others I imagine, am still working through it. I think with the holidays happening directly after the shootings, my mind was occupied and that the next few post-Christmas/New Years weeks and days will bring me some time to think this over.

We arranged for Guinness to have a helpful friend/guardian/apartment-sitter for our time away; the dog was unimpressed. I got to San Jose before Michael joined me and then we trekked to Gilbert, Arizona, to enjoy the rest of the holidays with family.


Dear 2013 : I am ready and excited for you and what you have to bring, both the good and bad since without darkness there cannot be light {but I'm mostly looking forward to the GOOD!}.


May you all out there know that I am sincerely thankful that you are in my life {even if you're an internet lurker and I don't know you [Hi!]} and I THANK you for being a part of my journey. A Happy and Healthy 2013 to each and every one of you!
xoxo, natty ♥

Caught.

Another long day has caught me ready for bed without having posted anything.

That's just kind of how this week has been what with regular life, days leading up to a holiday, and our visitors being here; it's kind of like a reverse vacation in that when I haven't been at work we've all been hanging out together and doing things {like going to Great Falls & the White House & eating out & etc.} which has been SO much fun but I've also not had time to do much else which is actually a pretty good thing.

And on that note, it's almost Wednesday?
xoxo, natty ♥

Longish day; a poorly written haiku.

It is November.
This was a long but great day!
A pizza dinner?!

xoxo, natty ♥

It's the best day of the week!

Whoever invented Fridays is a genius!
xoxo, natty ♥

Will it or won't it?

Everyone seems to be talking about "Frankenstorm" aka Hurricane Sandy. She's not going to touch ground here but supposedly we're going to get a bit of an impact.
Here's some informational reading in case you're interested {Dad}.

• Washington Post Breaking News Blog
• Washington Post Capital Weather Gang Blog {a recent FAVORITE}
• Washington Post Capital Weather Gang Blog on pet safety during Sandy

And my DMV appointment to get my DC driver's license and license plate is cancelled.

Thank you DC DMV Twitter; such a quick and efficient way to get in touch with the DMV!
Despite the cancellation, we're not taking things too seriously {we haven't purchased a generator} {famous last words...} but we are making sure that our phones are fully charged and maybe we did buy a big case of water and we're definitely saying a positive prayer for those who are getting the biggest brunt of the storm.
xoxo, natty ♥

Hodgepodge; October 2012.

A bit of a brain dump for y'all.

*   We had a great and exciting time volunteering last night! Prost!

*   As I said, I am really pumped about our Winter CSA. I mentioned it HERE. We'll be receiving a twice-monthly bounty that includes cheese, yogurt, and eggs. The first installment was plentiful! I'll be tackling butter beans this week and a variety of other leafy greens that we still have.

*   Yes, I'm still mentally keeping track of my 101/1'001which I EEK haven't update for you all since May. Life got the better of me but I have not forgotten! Perhaps in November there will be a Mega-Update.

*   Earlier this week I started a great book. A few years ago I read "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls and I've been thinking about it since. It's a haunting memoir and such an engaging novel. The book I finished this week is Jeannette's subsequent novel entitled "Half Broke Horses: A True-Life Novel" and it's a historical memoir of her grandmother. Both pieces are, like I said, haunting. I highly suggest both books.

*   The weather is roller-coasting all over the place. It's been very pleasant, I will say that much, but there was CRAZY rain Friday afternoon {I was driving and it felt like a person was throwing buckets of water onto my car} and then it's about to go back up to the mid-high seventies. I'm really loving the leaves and warm breezes!!! But I could do without the buckets of rain.
We're carving pumpkins next weekend; YES!!!!

I hope that your weekend was fruitful and that you are feeling rested and well prepared for the week ahead!
xoxo, natty ♥

Fast Times.

Ohmygoodness what's whirlwind of a Friday; Good Weekend to you and more to come this weekend!