About a bracelet.....

I love Amy Butler and her gorgeous fabrics.  So I frequently peruse her website looking at her photos.  I came across this one a few years ago, and I immediately loved the tunic.

I actually bought the pattern, and one day, I intend to make it.  Let's hope that happens before Liam goes to college, but I'm not making any promises. 

Aside from the shirt, however, I also fell in love with that bracelet.  Do you see it? I kind of have a thing for cuffs.  And this one is bohemian perfection with it's mother-of-pearl and silver design.  

Since that day, I have thought about this bracelet.  And many times, I have scoured the internet searching for one like it.

And I found one.  But it was $275 and that was not in my budget.  

So, this past December, on a random Saturday (when I probably should have been grading papers or doing something productive) I decided to search for this bracelet instead. 

Imagine my excitement when I found one on eBay for a steal. I immediately bid on it and then I had to wait.... 

I don't buy a lot of things off eBay, but I know from experience that waiting for the auction to end is one of the worst parts.  Before I ever bid on something, I always set an amount that will be my maximum.  

And trust me, it is tragic when you see a beloved item's price rise above your maximum bid and you have to just walk away.

I was terrified for two days that I would lose this beautiful bracelet.

But alas, I won it at a crazy cheap price.   And I when I received it in the mail, I was giddy with excitement.  It was even more beautiful in person. 

And here I am wearing it at one of our Christmas gatherings.  This has quickly become one of my favorite pieces of jewelry.  I don't wear it often because it is delicate, but when I do, it makes me incredibly happy.

To think that I found that exact bracelet on a random Saturday on Ebay....it kind of feels like serendipity.  I'm pretty sure it was meant to be. 

Bringing home a little bit of France

While I was in France, I was particularly impressed with the some of the ways the French seem to just enjoy life. 

I was also smitten with their approach to food as well as their style. 

Here are some of my favorites:

• Their coffee was amazing.  Every afternoon, we enjoyed a cup of espresso.  I've never had espresso like this in the United States.  It was so rich and smooth and really makes me want to get an espresso machine.

 

• Their food was delicious.  Honestly, we did not have a bad meal, and I  really love their focus on eating fresh.  Their streets are lined with bakeries, produce stands, butchers, and cheese shops.  They shop almost daily and prepare their meals with all fresh ingredients. The food is rich, but the portions are reasonable.  They definitely prefer quality over quantity. 

 

 

• Have I talked about the chocolate?  Yum.  I had chocolate mousse for dessert multiple times.  So so good.  I may have come home with a slight chocolate addiction and have since been enjoying some good, dark chocolate on a daily basis. 

 

• I loved just sitting in the cafes that line the streets and people watching.  Something that was very noticeable was the lack of technology in these cafes.  I never saw anyone on their cell phone during a meal, or even while having coffee.  From what I understand, they really value being present when they are with other people.  It was refreshing and makes me realize just how plugged in we Americans are. 

• Paris is known for it's fashion.  And now I know why.   I never knew you could tie a scarf in so many different ways.  And I saw some amazing handbags. Everyone looks fashionable, but in a very natural way.  It's like they aren't even trying.  I definitely came home inspired.  

 

 

• Perhaps most inspiring was the fact that the Parisians just seemed to enjoy their leisure time.  In the late afternoons and evenings, the cafes were packed.  They really seem to prioritize taking some time to relax during their day.  Since I've been home, I find myself taking the time to enjoy an afternoon cup of tea.  I also have been working more from cafes rather than just sitting in my office. I've noticed that even these simple, small things can make a big difference in how I feel.  Even just a few moments of leisurely, intentional time can go a long way.

 

I continue to hold onto a little bit of Paris. The trip was a good reminder to focus a little more on enjoying the present, soaking up the good things in life, each and every day.

Paris - Part deux

I wrapped up my last post about the Paris trip with our visit to the Eiffel Tower.  

The following day, we headed to the Louvre, which was just a short walk from our apartment. 

Going to the Louvre has been on my life list since I took French classes in high school!  And I must say, it did not disappoint.  However, I wasn't quite prepared for the size of this place. It used to be palace and it's massive.  I actually got lost at one point.  
  

I didn't bring my big camera on this day because my shoulder was aching from lugging my bag around, and I definitely regret it.  My pictures would have been much better with my SLR.  So excusing the quality of my pictures, here are a few of my highlights:

The Venus de Milo was probably my favorite piece.  In fact, this wing, that was full of ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, was my favorite part of the museum.  I couldn't believe both the size and the detail of these pieces. 

I knew the Mona Lisa was going to be smaller than expected, but she was still impressive to view and her eyes definitely follow you!

 Of course there were numerous beautiful paintings, too many to post.  One of my favorite parts of this experience, however, was just walking through this beautiful palace.  It was gorgeous!

That afternoon, after we had lunch, we headed back to our apartment to relax and work on our presentation, which was the following day.  

On Friday, we spent most of the day at the conference.  Our presentation went very well, and to celebrate we decided to take a cruise along the Seine that evening.  The weather wasn't the best, but I got some really good shots of the city.  I just loved seeing these beautiful old buildings along the river. 

The Louvre

Notre Dame

On Saturday, we awoke and had our standard chocolate croissant.  Then we headed out to do some shopping.  I had decided that I wanted to bring home some pottery to display in our house.  I read about a pottery shop La Maison Ivre and so we headed that way.  And this store was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

I would have bought half of the things on display if I could.  It was full of beautiful linens and pottery. 

I came home with this beautiful piece which is displayed on one of our shelves. 

I love that every time I look at it, it reminds me of this fabulous trip.

After buying our trinkets, we went to a delicious crepery for lunch.  After that, Angela and her mom headed to Sacre Coeur.  I was kind of tired of the tourist scene and really just wanted to soak up my last day in Paris.  So I wandered the streets, popping into various boutiques and finally landed at a cafe where I sat and people watched and wrote in my journal.  

Our trip ended that night with a fabulous French meal where I had the most delicious risotto and chocolate mousse for dessert, of course. 

I feel so very grateful and so very blessed to have had this experience.  It was a wonderful trip, and I will cherish the memory.  The French definitely enjoy life, and since I've been home, I've been inspired to slow down a bit, savoring a few special moments of each and every day. 

My hope is that one day, I can return to France and explore the countryside.  I would love to see more of this beautiful country. 

Paris - Part 1

I finally found the time to go through all of my pictures from my trip to Paris.

I traveled there with my friend Angela, who is a professor at another university.  She used to be a fellow graduate student, and we've worked together for the past few years.  We submitted a proposal to present at the Writing Across Borders Conference about a year ago.  We submitted it, kind of on a whim, not really expecting to make the trip.  When our symposium got accepted, we still didn't think we'd go, but then my dear PhD advisor stepped in and insisted that we make the trip.  Have I mentioned how blessed I am to have her?!

Angela's mom also joined us.  We were there for a week and stayed in a lovely apartment that I found on Airbnb.  We could not have asked for a better location.  And it was so nice to have an apartment with a kitchen so we didn't have to rush out in the mornings to get our coffee!

We arrived mid-morning on Monday.  After flying all night, we forced ourselves to stay awake for the rest of the day.  We started out with lunch at a cafe near our apartment and then headed to see Notre Dame, which was only about a 15 minute walk.  

Having never been to Europe before, I've never seen buildings this old.  I couldn't quite wrap my head around the fact that Notre Dame dates back to the 1100's.  I also found it interesting that the building marks the very center of Paris. 

That evening, we stumbled upon a little market street only a few blocks from our apartment.  This little street was one of my favorite parts of the trip.  We spent a lot of time here at the cafes and hit up the little bakery each morning for a delicious chocolate croissant. We learned later in the week that this little market street is one of the more famous ones in the city.

 On Tuesday, we took a day trip to see Versailles.  I knew going in that the palace was going to be lavish, but I wasn't quite prepared for the size of the estate and just how opulent it is. 

Below is the hall of mirrors, which was one of my favorite parts of the interior.  The picture definitely doesn't do it justice!

While the palace was beautiful, the gardens were my favorite. I can only imagine how beautiful these are during the spring and summer.

 

After Versailles, we headed back into the city to the Arc de Triomphe.  Unfortunately, it was partially under scaffolding, but the view from the top was beautiful. 

On Wednesday, Angela and I headed out to the university to the conference to get our bearings and registration materials.  Later that afternoon, we went to see the Eiffel Tower. We timed it so we could be there during the day, but also see it lit up at night.

I know it sounds so cliche, but seeing the Eiffel Tower was truly amazing.  I got goose bumps when I saw it for the first time!

This was my first full view of it. 

It was much larger and actually much prettier than I expected.  Once again, I can only imagine how pretty this is in the spring when all of these trees are in bloom.

We climbed up to first and second levels and got some good views of the city.  I'm not a fan of crowded elevators so I happily passed on going all the way to the top! 

And my favorite part was seeing it lit up at night.  Beautiful.

I can tell how excited I am in this picture.  My smile is so genuine. 

Somehow, we timed it perfectly so we could see the sparkle.  

It was lovely.  And really blew my expectations away.  I will never look at pictures of the Eiffel Tower in the same way again.  It really is a work of art.

And here is one last picture, captured from the other side. 

Grateful Monday

I am officially back from my week in Paris!  I came home sick so I'm behind on everything, but I'm feeling better and ready to get back into the swing of things.

I'm still editing photos but hope to have a post up this week sharing some details of the trip.

To start my week off on a positive note, I'm kicking off with a grateful Monday post.

Here are five things I'm grateful for:

• We had smooth travels on our trip and returned home safely!
• I didn't really get sick until I got home!
• Skype.  I'm not sure I would have made it through a week away from my boys if it weren't for this wonderful invention.  There's just something so nice about being able to see them. 
• It's March.  So while it's snowing outside as I type, I'm hoping and praying spring is around the corner!
• I came home to a clean house, clean laundry, and these beautiful flowers.  I think my husband missed me!  These beauties have continually put a smile on my face all week.  I'm a lucky girl.

Have wonderful week!

xoxo

37 Years.....

Tomorrow is my birthday.

I don't mind.  I've always thought of each passing birthday as a blessing, and with each year comes the gift of more wisdom and more perspective.  As I get older, I also find myself more comfortable in my own skin.  That alone is worth so much. 

Source

So here I am at 37 years young.  I've learned a lot in my 37 years, but here are 10 things I know for sure.

1. Happiness is a choice. It's not something that happens when the conditions are right.  I choose happiness every single day.  
2. Good health is a gift that should be cherished.  It can be stolen away in a blink of an eye, at any age.   Taking care of my body and making healthy choices is essential.
3. Life is about people.   Family and friends are at the center.  Surround yourself with good ones. I'm a much better person because of the wonderful people around me. 
4. Spending time in nature always makes me feel better. When in doubt, get outside.  Unplug.  Breathe.  Be still and listen. 
5. Education is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves. Knowledge really is power.  Never stop learning.
6. Kindness really does pay off. 
7. A strong marriage is based on friendship and trust.  My husband is my favorite person. We tell each other everything, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
8. Sunscreen is mandatory. If only I could go back and tell this to my teenage self.
9. Music is food for the soul.  Listening to one of my favorite songs is like magic, if only for a little while.
10. Faith is essential.  Believing in a higher power brings me great comfort.  Often times, it's my only comfort as I try to make sense of this big, bad world we live in. 

The older I get, the more certain I am of these 10 truths. 

Hello 37.  

I can't wait to see what you bring...

Time Warp

Recently, I feel like I'm in a time warp.  I'm so sick and tired of winter and ready for spring, but at the same time, I'm clinging to the days, quietly willing time to slow down.  

I didn't realize the influence this dissertation would have on my perception of time.  I've got a pretty rigorous writing schedule in place, and I'm finding that my days are flying by.  It's okay.  I know that this is how it has to be.  But a life "pause" button would be pretty awesome right now.  

The good news is that I'm making progress.  The bad news is that, aside from being a wife and mom, all I really do is think about my dissertation.  It's super nerdy and strange to constantly be drafting sentences in your head....to lay awake at night theorizing and thinking about data.  Everyone says it becomes a love/hate relationship, and I'm beginning to see why.

In any case, I'm approaching this from a place of acceptance.  If I'm going to reach this goal then I need to dedicate myself to it.  And if that means several boring, isolated months, then so be it.  

I've also accepted that it means 2014 will likely be a light blogging year.  I'm finding that my desire to blog is significantly less now that I'm immersed in academic writing.  I will definitely continue to blog, but my posts are already proving to be less frequent.

It's okay though.  I can return more fully to this space in several months when I come out on the other side.

In the meantime, I'll do what I can.

Acceptance and faith.  That's where I'm at right now.  

And when I'm not "dissertating".  I'm trying to soak up every bit of time with my little family. My boys.  They truly are the lights of my life.  

And this little guy is my anchor to the present.  When I'm with him, time stands still.  He gives me the gift of the moment...reinforcing for me, that I am exactly where I'm supposed to be.