thank you very much

i'm thinking i won't have time to blog in the morning, so today's post will be in honor of tomorrow's holiday. and today's- happy thanksgiving eve!



today i am (MOST) thankful for: the wonderful people in my life. i'm grateful to have new people in my world, who are here to enjoy life's simple pleasures with me on a regular basis. and i'm grateful for my closest friends and family back home, who will always love and care for me no matter where i go or what i do.

also:

coffee

christmas movies

scarves

my purple eyeliner from MAC

mac, my computer (and constant companion)

california

major league baseball

and do you know what i hadn't even thought of until this very moment? my FAVORITE part of the holiday. which then led me to think of my FAVORITE part of my FAVORITE part. so here are the two, perfectly combined in this lovely photo:

oh how i adore the radio city rockettes. they rock my world :)

enjoy being with the ones you love

. . . OR the ones you like a whole lot ;-)

. . . . . . OR just new people all together.

"...that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. o Lord my God, i will give You thanks forever." psalm 30:12

there's something you should know

i was writing out some thoughts on another "hello" post, but it was starting to sound super emo. i'm pretty private with my emotions, and i've decided that i'm not ready to elaborate on all those details of my life just yet. not for the entire world to see anyway. :) my friend sarah says that it's very liberating...maybe someday.

anyway...

i WILL share something with you that i don't think i've mentioned yet. and let me just say that it is amazing to me that i've gone this long without bringing this up! you wanna know what one of my favorite things in life is?

bridges. aren't they fabulous?

this is the pedestrian bridge in tulsa, oklahoma. it's probably the bridge that is closest to my heart. so far.

here are a few more. ugh i just love them!

really, how fantastic is that?

this is a picture taken from manhattan, with woody allen

and i won't lie...maybe i love what is going on in this picture as much as i love the actual bridge itself. i'm a girl, what can i say?

so now you know. i have a thing for bridges.

inside my arms

i've got winter song, by ingrid michaelson and sara bareilles, on repeat. it's beautifully depressing.

this is my winter song to you

the storm is coming soon

it rolls in from the sea

my love, a beacon in the night

my words will be your light

to carry you to me

monday

for now, i am saying hello. not just a greeting or salutation. perhaps it is more of a welcome sign. welcome to my life. there are many things that i keep at arms-length. i'm not sure why. fear, i suppose. i want to uncover these things (or people), overcome my fears, and welcome them in.


so today i'm saying hello to...

me.

fear in saying hello to me:

finding things i (or others) may not like.

i'm messy.

i don't love animals.

i can sleep for a loooong time, and not feel bad about it.

i think putting on my sweats is more fun than putting on a cute outfit.

i need coffee.

i like britney spears.

...just to name a few.

SO, me: i can't promise anything rational or safe or lovely. but welcome.

:) :) :)

i'm sorry i just couldn't resist...

Subject: Saturday
Date: 3/10/99 9:12:17 AM Eastern Standard Time
From: NY152
To: Shopgirl

How about meeting Saturday? 4 o'clock. There's a place in Riverside Park at 91st Street where the path curves and there's a garden. You'll find me waiting.

i mean, really, what better way to begin a new week? enjoy what is left of your weekend.

fierce

obsessed.

tonight i will be seeing the wine country home wreckers versus the sacred city sacrificers, and i pretty much couldn't be more stoked. my heart currently beats for this sport. though i love being a girly girl, and i'm incredibly grateful for the fact that i am sweet and delicate, i sometimes wish that i had it in me to be as fierce as these girls.

i would love to wear heavy eyeliner, have four different colors in my hair, and be completely decorated in tattoos. i would love to come up with a completely B.A. name that wholly represents my personality. and, moment of truth, i would LOVE to feel no guilt knocking other girls out from time to time. :)

however, this is so not me. this must be my rockstar alter-ego. don't worry, her identity is in the works. more to come.

challenge: do something fierce today. and don't feel bad about it.





wishing you a killer saturday.
and here's a hello to nate, the man behind the counter at starbucks. definite rockstar...i can tell.

uninspired...or am i?

so this is the first free moment that i've had to blog on this friday (woo hoo!), but you better believe that it's been on my mind all day long. in the transition from my last activity to the present, i was feeling sad because i thought that today's post would merely read "uninspired."

however, leave it to a good drive to bring inspiration. so these are my friday night thoughts:

i like music. okay okay, this much we know. but i REALLY like it. and what is even more- i like it LOUD.

i get such a rush when i'm driving and rocking out to some wicked tunes. i am pretty sure this horrid habit has completely jacked up two of stella's speakers. stella is my car by the way. anyway, i feel like such a high schooler for listening to music at such volumes, but i can't quit. and i won't.

so here's to all of my favorite musicians that get me going in club stella. you are good at what you do.

you're a pal and a confidant

ahh...mazzy star, fade into you, is playing right now. i just don't think i will ever grow tired of this song.
enjoying coffee and fruit this (barely) morning.

yesterday, when i was homeworking/blogging/coffeeing, there were these two adorable women sitting next to me, who spent a good chunk of the day just completely lost in conversation with each other. and today i look to my left, and see yet another pair of women, spending quality time discussing life and all that comes with it. they're also eating from a huge bag of lays potato chips, which i think is really cute.

i feel like most of my people-watching experiences at coffee shops are fully consumed with business. usually, when i look around, i see business partners sharing a not-so-fuzzy conversation about the best approach to making more money and increasing status.

but this is a lovely change.

confession: i <3 relationships. i am an extreme extrovert. therefore, i kind of love looking around me and finding that there are other people like me in the world. people who want to know and be known by others. i feel like i'm watching a sappy chick flick right now. this is ALMOST as exciting to me as the moment when kathleen kelly stands, waiting in riverside park, only to find that it IS, in fact, joe fox who comes to her rescue.

i won't lie, while this moment makes me incredibly happy and puts a warm cozy feeling in my chest, it is also causing me to feel slightly wompy. i would give anything to call up my bff and my sister to invite them to join me for sushi (our favorite bonding experience). or to do more than merely tell my mom about my favorite new drink, but to actually go to the coffee shop with her to share in her first experience with it.

so to all of you who have a beloved best friend (who shares your zip code), i would encourage you to call her up and head down to the local coffee shop (lays potato chips in hand) for a quality workout of the soul. as for me, i am anxiously awaiting my daily 1 o'clock phone call from my bff. this over-the-phone-while-siting-in-a-coffee shop thing will have to do...until december, at least.

get your tambourine goin

okay not to be blog-obsessed, but i just couldn't work the content of this posting into the last. it just didn't flow.

here is my wednesday playlist:

just got the blueprint 3...so empowering. makes for excellent driving.

m.i.a. is a little bit of a freak, but oh my gosh i love her.

tambourine. holla! this song is fabulous. can't help but dance when i hear it...like right now...in starbucks. calm down, jordan!

...i think my inner thug is here to party :)

do you see what i see?

i've been making a conscious effort to look around more. i don't want to miss the little things in life that bring pleasure.







and the best part? they make for excellent crunching when they fall :)

you and me and rain on the roof

"if it gets any sweeter than this, i don't wanna know..."

clean room.

christmas lights.

candles.

hot shower.

the sound of rain on the roof.

me time.

it's just so fantastic, i had to fill you in.

why sing about tomorrow? the sun came out today!

this sunny morning has made for a really great start to my day. got in a few extra hours of work, enjoyed a fun little workout, currently consuming a yummy cup of coffee, and the best part...

i found my all time favorite Christmas movie! it's one that i grew up on, therefore, i only own it on vhs (that's right, one of those big black boxy looking things). and where did i find it, you may ask? none other than the $5.99 collection at the grocery store! delight.

such a great movie. if you haven't seen it, please do. it's for your own good that i make this request. maybe we could even watch it together this holiday season :)

well...i suppose i should squeeze some quality learning (aka homework) into this lovely day. i think i can. i think i can. anyway, i will leave you with a few of my current obsessions, which i would LIKE to devote the next couple of hours to. i guess i will just let you enjoy them for me.

i love chandeliers right now. they're so dainty.

i won't lie...i HATE birds in real life, but birds in art = adorable

i LOVE LOVE LOVE quilts. and i'm digging the fun colors in this one.

have a terrific tuesday.

this little light

today is a music day. mondays make the BEST music days because a good tune can totally make or break your day. with the right playlist, a monday can be as delightful as any other day of the week. dare i say even a friday??

train is currently rocking my world. they really got it right with these words...

"the way you can cut a rug, watchin' you's the only drug i need"


a little sway is just the only appropriate response i could come up with for this song.

and now for the lyrics of my soul:
from sunshine song by jason mraz

i wanna walk the same roads as everybody else

through the trees and past the gates

getting high on heavenly breezes

making new friends along the way

i won't ask much of nobody

i'm just here to sing along

and make my mistakes look gracious

and learn some lessons from my wrongs

but sometimes the sun shines on other people's houses and not mine

somedays the clouds paint the sky all gray

and it takes away my summer time

somehow the sun keeps shining upon you, while i struggle to get mine

a little light never hurt nobody, send out your ray of sunshine

oh if this little light of mine combined with yours today

how many watts could we luminate

how many villages could we save

well my umbrella's tired of the weather wearing me down

well look at me now

thank you jason mraz for being so fantastic. and thank you to my best friend, chel, for introducing me to this portrayal of his greatness.
wishing you sunshine on this monday. and may you add a little sunshine to someone else's life :)

s-u-n-d-a-y treasures

ahh...the weekend is coming to a close. ordinarily this would make me very upset, but i am happy to report that it doesn't seem so bad tonight. nothing too extreme on the sched this week, except thursday night is the midnight showing of new moon! AND next week is READING WEEK! nothing to dread and plenty to look forward to. fabulous.

here is a quick recap of my sunday. though some of the elements you will see may confuse you, just trust that each contributed to what was an all-together delightful day.

via apartment therapy

watching 3 boys discover the best way to lay sod = entertaining

hee hee hee

totally found season one for $15

i definitely bought 8 new bottles tonight

...have you discovered my weaknesses yet?? :)

so i am wrapping up my day with a little quality jordan time- nail painting, a viewing of the holiday, christmas lights and candles. a toast to the new week and all that is to come. goodnight friendsies.

jo

ps- leggings and a hoodie are truly exemplary models of the perfection of snuggling up in cold weather

good stuff numero seis

here is my saturday good stuff (and for the record, i do realize that it is technically sunday):

:):):)

hope the weekend is treating you well.

xoxo
jord.

good stuff numero cinco

it's the weekend!!! finally! this has been a busy week, and today was nonstop (hence the 9 pm posting)!

and today's good stuff is...

calm moments.

after a busy day, i am sitting on a comfy couch in a quiet living room. kids in bed. house picked up. the notebook on oxygen (chick flicks = bliss). and all that i have on the agenda is...nothing.

i love living a fast-paced life. i struggle to stay in the same place too long. i love having things to do. mostly i LOVE surrounding myself with people. but i'm not gonna lie, right now it is soo nice to just sit and enjoy the simplicity of life. these moments are special, and this one is being embraced.

good stuff numero quatro

thursday good stuff =

and a little...

i feel that these two things just belong together. they are like the perfect couple. elizabeth bennet and mr. darcy. barbie and ken. tom and meg, even! they were destined to be together.

sure, you can have one without the other. people do it every day. but where is the fun in that? what is a life of fun without any element of success to go with it? success is vital; a life without purpose is just a waste. and don't even get me started on success without any fun mixed in! YUCK!!

i had a huge test this morning. and confession: i went out last night. i went and enjoyed myself. then, i allowed myself a 2 hour nap. woke up at 4:45 a.m., and learned the crap out of the old testament. and as i went to class this morning, i knew i was ready. i showed that test that i am a force to be reckoned with.

so today i am drinking from the fountain of successful fun. or is it fun success? either way, i'm enjoying it and will inevitably be asking the waitress for a refill.

good stuff numero tres

and the hump day good stuff is: my family. they're lovely.

my DAD: he is a sensitive guy. sweetest man ever, but always our family's strong protector.

my MOM: she would do anything for her family. RIDICULOUSLY funny and kind of a spaz. she doesn't know how wonderful she is. definitely one of my closest friends.

my SISTER: she is this tiny little thing with SO much spunk. and she is more like my mom than she will ever know or admit, which MIGHT be my favorite thing about her.

my BROTHER (in-law, but brother none the less): he puts up with 2 incredibly sassy women every single day. those girls are crazy! i commend him. hee hee

& my NIECE: she cannot be anything but adorable. she wants to be taylor swift (she is 2).

they are on my mind this morning, and i am so grateful for them. i'm ridiculously blessed.

good stuff numero dos

tuesday's good stuff: learning something new


[last night, i learned to play chess. well...began the learning process, anyway]


"play is our brain's favorite way of learning." -diane ackerman

;-) have a wonderful day today!

jordy

good stuff numero uno

my monday good stuff was going to be holidays, which led me to this video.

now it is a tie between holidays and children. this girl is adorable.

Christmas from Alexicon TV on Vimeo.

. . . presh. happy monday, friends!

and for the record, YES, i am already anxious for christmas!!!

down for the count

last night, at the peso, someone selected The Stones' "you can't always get what you want" on the jukebox, and it's completely true. in the last 2 years, i've discovered what those who know me best have seen all along- i don't like it when things don't go my way! i love to have fun and enjoy life, and i can be a little moody when things don't go as planned.

i'm currently working on keeping my emotions in check. they typically come in the form of Miss Sass, Miss Temper, Miss Sarcasm, or Miss Frowny Face. they tried to rain on my parade this weekend, but i simply told them to shut up and go away. determined to have fun, i uninvited them to the festivities i was partaking in. though i had my moments, i would definitely say that i came out on top. so...that's 1 for jordan.

it's the beginning of a new week, and i am determined to keep a positive attitude and to enjoy each day, regardless of circumstance. in spite of the fact that things inevitably won't go my way, i will choose to delight in the good stuff.

THUS, this week's theme: the good stuff. each day i will present something about life that is meant to be enjoyed. bring it, life!

rargh

i fell in love with these wicked leggings today. i have a thing for animal prints. unfortunately, i was spending too much moolah and was unable to purchase them at this time. i am definitely aching for them, though.

question: is it better to spend all of your money going out OR all of your money on something to wear when you go out? i have trouble balancing these two; for me, it's pretty much one or the other. ahh...life's dilemmas.

happy saturday night.

jord

really??

seriously, guys, what's with the whistle? you know the one i'm talking about. i sincerely don't see this approach ever working out for you. i'm just sayin'...

old friend, new twist

the braid...swoon.
christmas break is quickly approaching, which means i will be making a trip back to middle america. ordinarily that would seem pretty lame, but i must say, i am quite thrilled. my bestie and i always take advantage of the time we get together to practice and perfect our favorite hairstyles. we have recently begun the process of discovering new looks for experimentation. the braid will definitely be making an appearance, but i am eager to see what else is in store.