Catching Up

If you've been reading this blog for the last year, GOD BLESS YOU. I realize just how inconsistent I've been in writing but I think that maybe, just maybe, the blogging mojo is making a comeback. Back in December, I had every intention of the Joy project being what brought me back to my little spot of the internet that I love so much. Then there was a...detour. A speed bump. A road diverged.

And I had to take the one I have never traveled by.

Lordamercy, do I ever hope it makes all the difference.

Two days before Christmas, I resigned from my teaching position. It wasn't something I had anticipated doing, but sometimes life throws you a curveball and you have to stick the landing while you make the jump shot and roll with the punches or else you'll never sink the putt. Or something like that. Anyhow, I'm very proud of the work I did in that classroom and so grateful for the support I have continued to receive from so many of the parents, kids and teachers there. I'm not sure what comes next. It's been difficult emotionally having to process this new place. I have an amazing husband and support system {y'all included!} and I'm anxious to see what will end up filling this next chapter of my story.

In the meantime, let's get back to the joy, shall we? Brace yourself, my friends, there's a lot of pictures in this post. Let's start back where I left off, the trip down to Florida for Christmas with Mom and Allie...

Knox is the best traveler. Without fail, about fifteen minutes into any road trip he settles into a nap. His sweet freckled nose tucked into that fraggle of a tail? {16} Bliss.

It was McDonald's coffee {17}, BUT IT WAS COFFEE.

I don't remember who introduced me to the joy that is dipping a salty fry into a sweet Frosty {18}, but I can't eat one without doing so. Viva la Frosty!

It was a looooong trip down to Allie's new place near Palm Beach. Did you know Florida is really flat? Very. Nothing too terribly interesting to look at until you finally get close to the coast. Anytime I'm heading to a beach, I savor that first glimpse of the water {19}. A golden sunset over a glimmering gulf is always soothing.

I know the Carhartt overalls + my husband has already been mentioned {5}, but who says joys can't be repeated? {Let me say for the record, I asked him to pose this way {20}. But, seriously. Love. This. Man.}

My love of the magic of dusk and twilight is well documented {take a peek here and here}. So imagine my joy at a dusk shot through with purples and pinks and oranges {21}. Throw in a palm tree and you have the perfect recipe for peace.

Me, my Marmee and my Allie. {22} We have the same smile, we know each other backwards and forwards and we never get tired of making each other laugh {or laughing at each other}. 

It wasn't until I reached into Allie's pantry and realized that were no mini marshmallows that I knew the childlike joy of putting giant marshmallows {23} into my hot chocolate on Christmas morning.

Joy looks like weaving my love's Christmas morning traditions {24} into mine. 

And joy looks like my sister whipping out these lovelies {25} for a new Christmas morning tradition. Mi-more mimosas, please!

We missed the first big snow in Chatt while we were down in Florida. It was surreal to leave sunny and balmy Florida and drive back into a winter wonderland. But look! More freckles! {26} Only made of snow!

Jason and I got all gussied up and headed to one of our favorite spots in Chatt, The Terminal {27}, for a New Year's Eve dinner. I don't think I'll ever get tired of sitting across from my husband, enjoying really good local food and some spectacular brews.

He's slept in this position {28} since he was a wee pup and it never gets old. Never.

This dog. Eight inches of snow. Romping. {29}

Chattanooga was covered in one more big snow which actually kept us housebound for a week. Thank goodness I had stocked up for the quintessential snow day meal {30}. {Yes, that's a Muppets glass, the kind they used to sell at Pizza Hut back in the day. If you run across more of these, will you buy them for me? Pay you back, thanks!}

My dear friend and sister of my heart, Carlye {she's the one in the fantastic skirt and sassy boots}, is pursuing her joy and it is a thrill to watch her live out her calling as an artist {31}. Joy is contagious and joy was palpable as I watched her host her first art show reception down in Birmingham. She was amazing and I am inspired just watching her.

One of my {unspoken until now} New Year's resolutions was to read more, at least one novel a month. I felt like I was indulging the twelve year old bookworm in me {32} as I cozied up at a coffee shop and finished this fantastic book. If you have reading suggestions for me, I'd love to hear them!

This sculpture makes me giddy {33}. It reminds me of Jackie O and all things feminine.

There is joy in big hair {right, Amy Beth?} and there is joy getting all prettified for a night on the town {34}. I love being a girl.

Have you seen these? Fruit Loops in Cheerio form {35}. So, essentially healthy Fruit Loops. Awesome.

We're not really big on making a deal out of Valentine's Day. This year we opted for dinner at home {Jason cooked. SWOON.} and a quiet evening on the couch. Repurposing a Christmas ornament {made by the one and only Robin Plemmons} for our Valentine's Day decorations {36}? Ooh la la and lovey dovey.

So, there we are. Caught up. Onward....

Joy in the Busy

The fact that I'm writing this post at nearly 1 a.m. should tell you something about the busyness of this day. And yet, it's been a fun, fulfilling, Christmas-goodies-preparing kind of busy. Bright and early tomorrow morning, we'll be Florida bound! We're spending Christmas at Allie's new place, and while Tennessee will more than likely have a white Christmas, we'll be enjoying ours beachside.

So, this will have to be quick. On to today's joys!

 Hey, Haren girls! You made the blawg! Very impromptu, I picked these two lovelies up and they joined me for some Christmas errands. We picked out just the right sequins for a tacky Christmas tree sweatshirt, danced in the aisles of JoAnn, and snacked on gummy worms at The Gap. It was fabulous.

 More hand addressed mail from the rowdy and talented Robin Plemmons. She calls me by every name I've ever been given and I love it.

 First of all, this guy makes me laugh every day. Every. Day. Today, it was while he modeled the latest in gift wrapping accessories- the Scotch Tape Pop-Up Tape Dispenser. It's all the rage, baby.

Once I hit publish, I'm going to take a few minutes, turn out all the lamps and enjoy the glow of white twinkling lights. The gifts have been carefully chosen {or crafted} and I'd like to bask in the glow of busyness completed before it all gets packed into the car tomorrow morning. 

More joys from Florida to come!

Joy. Even in the gloomy.

And oh, was this a gloomy day. Grey skies, a bitter chill and the most passive aggressive rainy mist you've ever seen. But still, I found myself waking up and wondering what joy I would find today. It didn't take long.

As I was drying my hair, I realized that I had already put joy right in front of me {7}. Even if I wasn't ready for it, there it has sat this whole time.

Oh my. This hairspray was listed as one of the best drugstore buys in Real Simple this month so I picked it up yesterday at Walmart. The smell? {8} Delicious doesn't do it justice {that seems too savory}, but it's more fragrantly luxurious in a way that isn't overpowering. It's everything I've ever wanted a hairspray to be. At the risk of being overdramatic, I have found my hairspray soulmate.

In the midst of those few last Christmas errands, I stopped by Starbucks for a Pumpkin Spice Latte {9}. That red cup is awfully cheery as was the fact that I didn't have to worry about our budget because I used a generously given gift card. The handmade {and eco friendly!} coffee cozy made by a coworker's daughter adds a touch of sass, don't you think? {10}

I found some lovlies to be enjoyed at home. {11} Wink, wink.

What could have been a very mopey day was surprisingly bright. That's just what I've been hoping for.

Joy

I've found myself in a bit of a funk lately. That funk is around for a variety of reasons, ones I don't really want to go into because, honestly, focusing so much on the funk is what's gotten me into the funk in the first place. So, no thanks George Clinton, I don't gotta have that funk.

At the end of November, one of my favorite bloggers and writers, Sarah Markley, was in a similar place and she decided the way to remedy the problem was to focus on the joy. Here's what she decided,

For this month, because I need to laugh again, I’m going to look for, take note of and intentionally turn the corners of my mouth up in a smile one hundred things that bring joy to me.

100 Joys.

And I want you to participate too.

What I’m going to do: Beginning tomorrow I am going to be photographing and writing about all of these things that are joys to me. Or that will be joys to me. I haven’t written anything out ahead of time. I have no secret book in my purse with 20 “joys” already penned out. I will be doing this as a daily discipline and experiment to see if recognizing the joy in my life that is already is there will, in fact, change me.

She invited her readers to join her in this journey back to joy. I thought about it, I pondered and weighed the choice, and in the end, I decided it was easier to sit in the mess rather than look for joy.

How sad is that? But it's true, sometimes it feels easier to to wallow in the mess than to make the effort that will actually make you feel better. And sometimes you're just not ready to make the effort. And by "you," I mean "me", and by "sometimes," I mean "all the ding dang time."

But I am now. I need to reclaim the joy in my own life. I need to relearn how to spot it. I want to revel in it. So, today, I'm launching my own journey of 100 Joys.

Let's begin, shall we?

After meeting Jason for lunch {Oh, sweet Christmas break and your wide open middle of the day}, I decided to swing by my favorite antique mall. Just because I could.

Of course, I made a beeline for the booth that sells vintage hats. I never know what I'm going to find there, but I know it's bound to be good. However, I think this lovely was a little much even for me. {1}

But this one? This one makes me wish I lived in an era where women wore hats. Every day. I'm talking Ingrid Bergman, Lauren Bacall, Greta Garbo kind of fabulous.{2}

I came home to a mailbox full of nothing but hand addressed envelopes. {3} Enough said.

After mailing the rest of our own Christmas cards, I took The Monster up to the field to run around. The way he bounds around like a deer right before I make that first throw always makes me giggle.{4}

Carhartt overalls. My handsome husband. His patience as I got the just right picture to add to his contact info on my phone. Hunka, hunka. {5}

The new theme for this year's Christmas decorating was simplicity. Brightly colored ornaments and some twinkle lights makes our living room couch a cozy spot to be. {6}

This joy thing? I think it's already working. Here's to keeping my eyes open and my heart ready to soak it all in....