thursday quote

“Night is purer than day; it is better for thinking and loving and dreaming. At night everything is more intense, more true. The echo of words that have been spoken during the day takes on a new and deeper meaning.”

—	Elie Wiesel

the dream house

A sprawling yard of lush, green grass, flowerbeds overflowing with blossoms and a slow trickle from a stone fountain appear before me.  Large ancient trees shade the side of the house and I walk up the brick pathway welcomed by a white wood wrap around porch with natural colored wicker furniture…big comfy fabric cushions and a screened off section.

The main floor has a modest foyer, a beautiful woven rug and huge mirror with a vaulted ceiling directing the eye to follow the linearity of the staircase.  The upstairs landing is open looking out over the family room on the back side of the house.  Large windows let light stream in, natural colored furniture with pops of bright colored accents.

The kitchen is modern, clean lines, open space, natural wood, stainless steel appliances.

The hallways have shelves full of trinkets, photographs and travel souvenirs.   There is a study with a winding staircase to a cupola with a library and a sliding ladder along tall bookcases full of novels and books of all kinds.

{was just thinking about this the other night with a friend…I feel like I could go on and on in every detail possible…these just come to mind}

tunesday: ellie goulding

her first album "lights" is beautiful, poppy, soulful goodness.  this lovely british girl gets double props for also being a nike girl and spokesperson.  i could see myself working out to this album too actually.

noteworthy tracks: lights, guns and horses, salt skin

monday quote

“A few times in my life I’ve had moments of absolute clarity. When for a few brief seconds the silence drowns out the noise and I can feel rather than think, and things seem so sharp and the world seems so fresh. It’s as though it had all just come into existence. I can never make these moments last. I cling to them, but like everything, they fade. I have lived my life on these moments. They pull me back to the present, and I realize that everything is exactly the way it was meant to be.”

—	Christopher Isherwood

nothing to worry about

2012...happy new year

after seeing the movie we bought a zoo, i hope to instill in my life that it only takes 20 seconds of courage to do incredibly extraordinary things in life.

"You know, sometimes all you need is twenty seconds of insane courage. Just literally twenty seconds of just embarrassing bravery. And I promise you, something great will come of it."

2012 is for:

• having faith
• being healthy mind, body and soul
• discipline
• believing in myself
• being open and honest
• paving my own path...staying out of the stream
• more good music
• growing up even more
• courage to try new things
• burning candles and meditation
• supporting those around me
• motivation and best effort
• breakthroughs
• love...always love

2011 (in no particular order)

• i played my first season of college tennis and received the sportsmanship award for my school and in the big ten
• i went to las vegas with my team for spring break
• i traveled to bolivia for two weeks this summer
• i moved into my own place with the best room mates a girl could ask for
• i cut ties with people that brought me down and filled the gaps with new faces that make me incredibly happy
• i grew my wardrobe with more hipster attire and my itunes library expanded with an explosion of indie rock goodness
• it was a year that i went to more local concerts and truly appreciated live music
• i attempted water skiing and wake boarding with little (absolutely zero) success
• i pushed my body super hard
• i started to believe in myself and my potential
• i became more confident and outgoing and realized life was too short to live it for anyone else
• i got caught up in drama but found a way out
• i started blogging again...this time without any agenda or obligation
• i am so thankful for those i have spent quality time with this year...the people i could sit down and talk to for hours about anything