Hello, March!

Happy Mardi Gras, everyone!

I am having some serious Mardi Gras woes.  I think I should be sipping on a Bloody Mary right now instead of discussing nonprofits in class (as evidenced by my tweet below). Know what I mean?

I am SO glad to say goodbye to February, it was an all-around struggle of a month for me.  I realize things could always be worse, but it was definitely a month of personal growth in more ways than one.  So I say goodbye to February and goodbye to the things that you can only learn with time.

My heart is so full with a desire to be back in the south.  I miss Louisiana, especially today.  The people, the culture, the doing of all things a little bit slower...because good times sure do go by way too fast.

I'll be home in the sunny RGV in the next few days, and my goal is to feed my soul and heal my heart.  I want to feel more like myself and that involves a lot of family and a lot of sun.  It will all begin tomorrow night with a concert to Amos Lee.  Here is one of my favorites from his new album, Mountains of Sorrow Rivers of Song "Chill in the Air"

Current thoughts:

• A haircut is coming up, I will be going short, short, short. In late April/early May.  I need to wait for the weather to warm up around here before getting rid of these locks keeping me warm.
• The second largest Mardi Gras (technically Samedi Gras) in STL is only maybe a quarter the size of real Mardi Gras
• I'm on the search for Strawberry Abita, if you stock up, please send some my way!
• Is it possible to find a good crawfish boil around here?
• While I miss Louisiana, I am torn at something calling me back home to Texas, to work with the population I know best
• I hope that "12 Years a Slave" winning Picture of the Year draws more people to read Solomon Northup's story

I leave you all with a poem that I will not translate, by one of my favorite's, Jorge Luis Borges. 

"Después de un tiempo uno aprende la sutil diferencia entre sostener una mano y encadenar el alma.

Y uno aprende que el amor no significa acostarse y una compañía no significa seguridad y uno empieza a aprender...

Que los besos no son contratos y los regalos no son promesas, y uno empieza a aceptar sus derrotas con la cabeza alta y los ojos abiertos.

Y uno aprende a construir todos sus caminos en el hoy, porque el terreno de mañana es demasiado inseguro para planes... y los futuros tienen una forma de caerse en la mitad.

Y después de un tiempo uno aprende que si es demasiado, hasta el calor del sol quema.

Así que uno planta su propio jardín y decora su propia alma, en lugar de esperar a que alguien le traiga flores.

Y uno aprende que realmente puede aguantar, que uno realmente es fuerte, que uno realmente vale, y uno aprende y aprende... y con cada día uno aprende.

Con el tiempo aprendes que estar con alguien porque te ofrece un buen futuro significa que tarde o temprano querrás volver a tu pasado.

Con el tiempo comprendes que sólo quien es capaz de quererte con tus defectos, sin pretender cambiarte, puede brindarte toda la felicidad que deseas.

Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que si estás al lado de esa persona sólo por acompañar tu soledad, irremediablemente acabarás deseando no volver a verla.

Con el tiempo entiendes que los verdaderos amigos son contados, y que el que no lucha por ellos tarde o temprano se verá rodeado sólo de amistades falsas.

Con el tiempo aprendes que las palabras dichas en un momento de ira pueden seguir lastimando a quien heriste, durante toda la vida.

Con el tiempo aprendes que disculpar cualquiera lo hace, pero perdonar es sólo de almas grandes.

Con el tiempo comprendes que si has herido a un amigo duramente, muy probablemente la amistad jamás volverá a ser igual.

Con el tiempo te das cuenta que aunque seas feliz con tus amigos, algún día llorarás por aquellos que dejaste ir.

Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que cada experiencia vivida con cada persona es irrepetible.

Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que el que humilla o desprecia a un ser humano, tarde o temprano sufrirá las mismas humillaciones o desprecios, multiplicados al cuadrado.

Con el tiempo comprendes que apresurar las cosas o forzarlas a que pasen ocasionará que al final no sean como esperabas.

Con el tiempo te das cuenta de que en realidad lo mejor no era el futuro, sino el momento que estabas viviendo justo en ese instante.

Con el tiempo aprenderás que intentar perdonar o pedir perdón, decir que amas, decir que extrañas, decir que necesitas, decir que quieres ser amigo, ante una tumba, ya no tiene ningún sentido, ya es tarde, nunca dejes que algo te sea demasiado tarde.

Pero desafortunadamente, LO APRENDERÁS sólo con el tiempo..." 

* Note: I believe there's a translation available by Veronica A. Shoffstall *

Transitions // Dignity // Forgiveness

I'm getting SO excited as the summer comes to a close.  I remember getting anxiety, sadness, nostalgia, and about a thousand other not so great feelings last year and the year before that around this time.  It truly makes me thankful and eternally grateful for where my life is going.  I am attempting to appreciate every day and the little things that come with preparing for my new journey to St. Louis.

More than anything I'm excited to start my new part-time job as a graduate fellow with the office of Residential Life.  I've always loved mentoring others and working with young adults.  The excitement of starting college as a freshman is contagious and I cannot wait to share it with incoming students at Washington University.  Second, I just LOVE the program I have enrolled in and it excites me that my hands-on learning begins in the spring semester.  I have the ability to customize my own program based on my future career goals, which if I haven't talked about are rural education and non-profit management.  I also plan to explore the idea of school social work.  The possibilities are endless...

On a different note and a little something more personal I'd like to touch base on apologies.  I think those of us that are most prideful (I am guilty of this) understand that apologizing is hard to do.  A good apology, one that comes from the heart, swallowing that pride, whether a year or five years after should always be appreciated.  Sometimes people don't realize they need to apologize and sometimes it takes time for that apology to be honest.  In my eyes, a genuine apology deserves forgiveness, and forgiveness requires vulnerability and grace.

I am referring to all of this here because recently someone that I used to know reached out to me for reconnection and most importantly with a much needed apology.  I almost considered not opening the e-mail and simply deleting it, but after reading it I was thankful and am eternally grateful for that apology.  I think it was the apology that gave that chapter in my life the closure that was necessary.  The reconnection however, is something I cannot do.  The reconnection is not about a lack of forgiveness or about pride, but about dignity.  Six months ago, or even eight months ago I may have considered accepting reconnection out of politeness.  I have realized, however, that for my own mental health and self-respect I choose to not reconnect.  To this person: thank you, sincerely, for the apology, and I hope you can respect my decision.  

Unpacking // Nostalgia

I have always hated unpacking, okay who really likes doing this awful chore anyway (don't answer that)?  But really, I am the person who will literally take weeks before unpacking a suitcase.  Now, packing, I'm quite a champ at, but when it comes to unloading suitcases I need to be forced after three weeks of it sitting (just ask my roommates).  I have attempted to get into the habit of immediately unpacking within thirty minutes of arriving so that I am not putting it off like the slacker I am. Has not been entirely successful yet.

My procrastination when it comes to unpacking is probably why it did not surprise me one bit when I also put off to metaphorically unpack the emotions in my life.  If I reflect back on the past two years, a LOT has happened.  I am a completely different me than I was May of 2011.  One of my best friends pointed out to me that it's that time, time to unpack, partly because new chapters are unfolding in my life, risks are being taken, and he deserves someone who travels light.  Someone who has washed the crinkled up clothes that have been sitting there for entirely too long, maybe even throw some out because they have gone out of style.

So, here I am as I unpack the past two years of my life, with vulnerability and no hesitations.

Currently - I am relaxing at home, in the Rio Grande Valley, spending time with my family.  It is absolute bliss not having a care in the world (well, sort of).  I am taking time for myself, recharging, appreciating myself.  Current schedule: wake up, read, run errands (if any), gym, read, eat, repeat.  No regrets because I know it will be busy, busy, busy come August when school starts for me.

Louisiana - you can read more about my feelings about teaching here, but my time in Louisiana ended up being a true blessing.  I have a little cajun in my soul and I would not change the past two years of my life for anything.

Mon sha - the current man in my life.  He was unexpected, like I met you once and mindlessly flirted landing my friends and I with a little something extra.  As in, I went out with you thinking it would be a one time thing, a one week thing, a just-til-I-leave-in-May thing.  I am not sure about a lot of things with him, but he makes sense right now.  We are completely different, he likes black, I like white.  He prefers classic rock and roll to my favorite Jason Aldean country song.  I drink beer, he drinks....something else (ha!).  He is nothing like anyone I have ever met in Louisiana, and that might be my favorite part.  He's loyal, and kind, he's respectful, and means what he says.  He has strong opinions, but is always willing to listen to the opinion of others.  We are learning about each other, and I will keep y'all posted on how the test goes.

May 2011 - May 2012 - this was byfar the most difficult period in my life early twenties.  I not only transitioned out of college and into the "real world", which was extremely scary, but I also moved to a new state and started one of the most difficult and underrated jobs someone can have in our country.  I was dating someone pretty seriously at the time.  Let me define "pretty serious", I thought that we would be engaged by December 2013 and Married by the end of 2014 (wtf?! GTFO?! I know....).  Anyway, this person, although I was in love at the time, added a lot of good things to my life and I learned many things.  Among many things he taught me patience, to listen, to be selfless, and overall more sensitive to the needs of others.  However, instead of growing into a person I loved, sadly I closed off to others, especially my best friends.  Instead of becoming a better version of myself I began asking myself what I did wrong and how I could better myself for him, because he never made me feel good enough.  Frankly, I was never that attracted to him physically (but still blinded by love), though he was to me.  I could never "give" him what he needed, and though I tried and tried and tried, it never appeared to be enough.  I gave, and gave, and gave, and gave, and gave, and really and truly I was drained.  Things about me that were never an issue at the start of the relationship turned into LIFE issues at the end of it.  Instead of giving the selfless support I needed when my life got so tough I almost  quit everything I had worked for and moved back to Texas, he sunk me down.  To this day it overwhelms my chest with anxiety to think of the person I had become.  I was not myself, I was not happy, I was not light and sunny, I felt heavy and drained at the same time.

I went through a period of pure abstinence from men/dating/love, I was enjoying being single and learning to be me by myself and loving who I had always been.  Somehow sometime between Seattle and the beginning of 2013 I learned to become lighter than I've ever been.  I opened up a side of me I never have before.  I did it with my students, so why shouldn't I do it in real life?  Things that used to bother me as much just didn't, I became more vulnerable and open to love and new things.  I told myself I would never again let a relationship get in the way of friendships, I would protect my heart, but without a fear to let others in.  It's a process in the making, just ask my best friends :)

Now, commitment is something I have to work through.  I'm talking long-term commitments.  This is a fear I will talk about next time....

I am emotionally exhausted, as I'm sure you are too if you're still reading this.  Off to paint my nails something other than "Cajun Shrimp" ;)

Tomorrow is Fashion Friday because I slacked on What I Wore Wednesday.

If you've been with me this entire time, have you seen me grow through this blog? 

Thoughts From My Porch...

I never thought I would get so attached to the state of Louisiana the last couple of months being here.  Today I felt so at home in my life here.  I started to think about the transition I will very likely be experiencing next fall.  The last transition in my life was here to Louisiana and it was the most difficult I have experienced yet.  Now, I feel so at home here, I feel attached to this place.  I feel protective of it, of its people, of its culture, of its education.  I never thought that I'd find myself saying how I would be interested in coming back to Louisiana one day to establish an organization and/or work for one that aligns with my professional values and life goals (what?!) Crazy, huh?

May of last year I remember how I didn't even look back as I left the state for Texas.  Texas is not on my mind these days.  As a loyal Texan, I do love my home state, but I'm pretty good with not going back there to live and establish myself for a good while.  May of this year, I am starting to have uneasy feelings about how I will handle leaving.  Many tears, many memories, it will surely be difficult.  I cannot say goodbye, it will be a see you later.

This evening, I contemplate my graduate school decision.  I have been honored to receive a very legitimate scholarship to WashU.  This scholarship is placing a heavy weight on my pro list and leaving University of Washington in Seattle a bit behind.  I am highly impressed with WashU's marketing, University of Washington simply seems to care about whether I send them a check with my deposit to secure my place.  I have received one measly letter from Seattle, nothing impressive, with an envelope to submit my deposit.  No welcome packet, no information about the school of social work, no post card, that's it.  Depressing, and not very convincing?  You are telling me this is a top program? SHOW ME! I am deceived.

On the bright side, I have completed my FAFSA (phew) and am awaiting to find out what the rest of my financial packages look like for both schools before making a final decision.  But, as of right now, St. Louie is lookin' pretty good.

Current favorite things:
- Sitting on my porch in the cool and warm evenings until the sun goes down
- Yoga
- Eating Grapefruits
- Afternoon coffee
- Country music

What's your vote for me, WashU or Seattle? Explain your answer and support with evidence. 

The Corners of Your Mouth

Guess what?! One guess...

I feel so blessed, thankful, grateful, and truly humbled that the University of Washington in Seattle has accepted me to their MSW program.  I have neither accepted nor denied either offer.  Both schools are incredible, and I am in the middle of making pro/con lists.  St. Louis is looking pretty good right now, but ideally I would LOVE to live in Seattle.  I can't say the same about St. Louis because I've never been, but we'll see come April when I go visit.  

Friday I should know something about a possible scholarship to WashU in St. Louis, and hopefully I will be awarded something.  Keep your fingers crossed for me, send prayers/good vibes my way.

I am currently sitting in Brew Ha-Ha in Baton Rouge listening to an Open Mic night.  Tomorrow I don't have to go to work (YAY!).  Instead I am attending an excellent school visit in New Orleans.  I am excited to see what a well-functioning school looks like. A school that fully supports their staff and students, and a school structure that doesn't have the issues of most schools in our rural parishes.  I will miss my kids tomorrow, but who doesn't love a four day week, right?

Life is busy, busy, and full of things to do lately.  That's a good thing, most days...I keep toying with the idea of staying in Avoyelles next year, but deep down I know that's not where my heart is leading me.  I love the kids I teach to death, and if I continue my life elsewhere I am very excited to return next year for the graduating class of 2014.  Most of the kids I taught last year and this year are graduating next May.  I already have some asking me about coming back for their graduation.  The answer is, "ABSOLUTELY!"  I will shed tears of sadness and tears of joy.

Other updates:

- I went to my first crawfish boil this past Friday(!)
- I may or may not have met someone who is worth talking to and spending time with(!!)
- I will be spending some days in Austin the week before Easter! Let me know if you'd like to meet up, more than likely I'd love to see you ;)

-

Ain't it true...

Dear University of Washington...

Dear University of Washington (Seattle),

As I sit here at 10:53 PM (CT) with no response as to whether or not you have denied or accepted me to your school of social work, the thought of moving to St. Louis is sounding extra appealing.  I am currently reading the WashU Brown School of Social Work blog and daydreaming about the possibility of living in the midwest.

I am frustrated, growing impatient, and cannot conceive how your "by February" decision turned into "sometime in February" and is quickly turning into "last day of February."  I do not mean to sound whiney or ungrateful, but please do not let me wait until March....

Signed,

- A Very Anxious and Ambitious-Possible-Husky

"La joie de vivre"

My heart is SO full.  Full of humility, love, gratefulness, and happiness.  I am so thankful for how blessed I have been this year.  I feel as though I have been living up to my goals and resolutions so far.  The most important "la joie de vivre" - the joy of living.  

Let's take a look at some personal goals here from this post.

Personal Goals

• Go on a blind date
• Ask someone out on a date, because who says I can't go after what I want?
• Find a more unified theme for my blog, and increase my viewing audience
• Go on at least four brewery tours by the end of the year
• Ride a hot air balloon
• Send birthday packages/care packages/cards to show I love my family and friends 
• Buy all Christmas gifts by the end of November
• Send out Christmas cards by the first week of December
• Make a habit out of reading CNN, just like I read blogs/social media sites
• Every time I open social media I have to open CNN or another news source
• Minimizing all meat intake to once a week
• Go ALL OUT for holidays (Valentine's, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Mardi Gras)
• Travel abroad at least once this year 
• Travel to NYC, New Orleans, Dallas (for you, Sarah), Boston, Seattle, and Santa Fe
• Take another road trip across the country
• See more of my best friends (in person)
• Go to at least one concert

That's pretty darn successful for February 2013, especially considering I had not purchased plane tickets or concert ticket to either.  I feel good about this list, and I think it's definitely possible to complete everything by December.

I just returned from my trip to New York City and it was incredible.  I had the most wonderful time with my roommate visiting friends, being young, and simply living.  I'd love to give a brief update in pictures and a short list of places I highly enjoyed.  I have never felt so alive in the city, and even though I have no desire of living there, it was a blast to visit as a twenty-something.

Of course we arrived in the middle of Blizzard Nemo

Made a new friend on the left, reunited with a new friend on the right, and had a great time with my roomie 

NYC streets were dead in the middle of the night during Nemo

But the snow made Central Park look magical the next morning

Magical 

Met up with my college friend,  Erica! 

She took me to the Big Gay Ice-Cream Shop!  

The baby was soft serve with caramel topped with sea salt and covered in chocolate! 

There was a romance about Washington Square Park

Serendipity has legit hot dogs! 

But they are even more serious about their Frozen Hot Chocolate!  

Beauty in the Upper West Side

NYC night life

Craziness in Grand Central Station

Ended the trip with a PHENOMENAL performance by Mumford & Sons

Huge venue, but I was honored to be SO, SO, close to the stage

Are you experiencing "La joie de vivre" this year?

"I water my grass all day, every day..."

Sometimes you just have to keep on keeping on--know what I mean?!

January has been full of fun, and living, and downs, but lots of ups too.  Updates, in pictures? Sure, why not.

• I am beginning to feel immense guilt about leaving this place come May.  My school, my students, a place that has changed me and shaped my life's vision.  I am not sure if I could truly justify with words the way this little parish in central Louisiana has touched me.  May will surely be bittersweet.  

• My cousin came to visit for MLK weekend with her boyfriend and that was a blast.  I took her to all the local places and we went to NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana for those of you who never heard the acronym--Sean).  
• Thank you for coming, prima.  I love you so much and am so proud of who you have become since we were little girls playing Barbies.

At the local Daquiri Bar

New Orleans has an incredible energy about it.  This was at the Frenchman Art Market 

•  I felt so twenty-something.  I admired and appreciated art, something I take for granted much too often.  I forget how much I love just walking around and appreciating what other people take the time to create.  I may or may not have purchased three pieces of art.  

Best bar EVER.  The Carousel Bar inside of the Hotel Monteleone

• New Orleans was just fantastic.  I had not been there post-Katrina, even since I've been in living in Louisiana now.  Most people who know I live here don't realize that New Orleans is not just around the corner.  People also don't realize that Louisiana culture varies from the north to central to south Louisiana.  I definitely loved the vibe in New Orleans.  The Carousel Bar was a great place to people watch, listen to jazz, and sit at a bar that went around and around (slooowly of course) in Carousel fashion.  

The original Raising Cane's in Baton Rouge, LA.

Our first King Cake of the season in the spirit of Mardi Gras from Sucre.

It's not a NOLA trip without some Cafe Du Monde

Beignets & Cafe au laits

•  If you notice in the photograph above, I finally gave in and purchased some LSU gear.  You know you've been officially adapted to Louisiana culture when you wear some purple and gold. Oh, and when you stop calling it purple and yellow...oops.

• Then one fine MLK day, I was in a car accident. With whom?  Just with a girl who had her license for all of, oh, one month at the ripe age of sixteen.  I was at a green light and she was turning left in the opposite direction into oncoming traffic (AKA: me).  On the bright side, no one was hurt, she got a ticket, hopefully learned her lesson, and had insurance.    

My current rental: a black charger. Oh, I look SO fast and the furious in this.

• But, among all the ups and downs, I have these beautiful ladies to keep me company and keep me smiling.  I treasure our wining and dining like last Thursday night.  Maybe even scoring us some free creme brûlée on the side.  
• On a final note, the University of Washington (Seattle) grad school has now delayed their decision until "sometime in February."  But patience is a virtue, right y'all ;)

How did January treat you?

Every Minute of it

Thank you for the reminder, Julie. 

Thanks, wifey.

A friend sent me the Jack Kerouac quote this morning because she said it reminded her of me.  I couldn't help but grin really wide to myself and nod in agreement.  It's true, I really am in love with my life these days.  With every minute of it.  It feels absolutely incredible to hear myself say that, because life for me was so different a year ago.  A year ago I would not have said the same thing.  A year ago I was getting used to kind of liking going to work.  A year ago I lived alone.  A year ago I had maybe three friends in my new life in Louisiana.  A year ago I had a boyfriend.  A year ago I wasn't living.  A year ago I didn't love who I was or where I was.  But now, I love it all.  

For the first time since I have been teaching in Louisiana I have had three consecutive days of sadness.  Genuine sadness that stems from the thought of not being here in June.  Sadness from leaving my students here and feeling selfish for leaving them to pursue other dreams of mine.  I feel an overwhelming sense of responsibility for my students and the relationships I have created with the people that have become like a family to me.  My students, their lives, and the community they have welcomed me into have been an emotional catharsis for my early twenties.   

A year ago I thought I would be ready to cut all ties with Louisiana come May 2013, but I am beginning to think I may tie a knot instead, only to have it untied upon my return.  I don't think I can say goodbye anymore...

Surprised? Me too.

Rain Day // Mantra

All this recent excitement for Girls kind of, sort of, may have caused me to purchase a ticket to New York City.  No, really.  Okay, maybe it wasn't just because of Girls, but I am so psyched to go to the city in February.  February is one of my least favorite months anyway, so I may as well jazz it up a bit and hit up the east coast.

Louisiana to NYC, booked in a NY Minute :)

It's been about six years since I last went and even though I don't plan on doing the touristy things very much, I am thrilled to take this trip with my friend and roommate.

Best part?  I plan on seeing Mumford and Sons while I'm there.  They're playing in Brooklyn two days in NYC, and you bet I will see them while I'm there.  I bet you're wondering, were they a deciding factor on whether I went on this trip or not?  You bet they were!

So, let's analyze how my mantra for 2013 is going, "the work can wait" and "anything could happen."  For me, this year is about living.  I mean really and truly living.  Work can wait sometimes, and I want to enjoy life.  I have accomplished so much in the past year and a half, but I have missed out on living parts of it.  At the end of this year I intend to feel 100% drunk on LIFE.

I think the universe took it to heart when I established said mantra for my life, because today I woke up at 5:00 a.m. to find out that school was cancelled because of major flooding/tornadoes/storms.  HALLELUJAH!! What a beautiful surprise to have a rain day.  The work can wait...obviously, it did today!

I slept in, made breakfast, had lunch at my favorite restaurant, watched Django, sat on my porch and worked, and went mud riding(!). Say, what?  Yes, you did not misread, I went mud riding on a rainy day.  A friend we met a couple of weeks back drove by, honked (in true southern fashion), and before we knew it, two of my roommates and I were headed to the bayou to experience a southern tradition for rainy days.  It was an outstanding experience, and yes I missed yoga, but made some fantastic memories.

All I can say is that, life, well lived is good.

How has 2013 started out for you? 

Too late, too soon.

Recently my friends and I made a non-Teach For America friend here in Small Town, Louisiana.  I know, you're probably thinking...it took you a year and a half to make a friend?! Ha, I mean we have teacher friends, but we are not talking about those.  If any of you (teacher friends) are reading, I love y'all and am so blessed to have met you, but this post is dedicated to one of our few non-teacher friends of our generation.

Our dear Matt, who we met a mere three weeks ago.  We met Matt, a year and a half too late.  Matthew is a true gem and just good ol' salt of the earth.  He is moving at the end of the week to pursue his dreams and do amazing things at the cooler end of the state ;)

To Matt: thank you for being sweet, kind, and just the perfect addition to our friends here and our memories in Louisiana, and I know I can speak for all when I say that we are sad to lose you so soon.  You were a good one, and I intend on keeping in touch.  Best of luck on your endeavors, and I'll be seeing you in Tahoe, or Seattle, or St. Louis...but definitely NOLA.

Shrimp Creole: a true Louisiana meal 

Thanks for cooking an awesome dinner, Matt! 

Ever felt like you met someone too late or too soon? 

Decisions

Lemon Drops were the drink of last night

Aren't you just in a deciding mood sometimes?  Usually I'm pretty indecisive, not the best decision maker.  Lately though, I'm all about making decisions.  On this beautiful Sunday before starting work again I will give you some insight into two executive decisions I have made.

• Making my bed regularly - I know this sounds super petty and ridiculous, but I've always been the girl who has made her bed every day.  Even through college I still made my bed daily.  When I moved to Louisiana a year and a half ago I somehow stopped.  I think this had something to do with the fact that I was going through a hard time that I stopped caring.  Now, I'm in a different state of mind and I woke up one day while I was home in Texas for winter break and thought, "Hmmm...I think I want to start making my bed every day again."  So, no more unmade bed for me.  It works for some people, and I tried it for a bit, but it wasn't for me.  I will wake up five minutes earlier just to get that task done.  Besides, I'm pretty sure I've read that people who make their bed in the morning are more productive.  

• "Anything Could Happen" by: Ellie Goulding will be my theme song of 2013 - Not only is this song featured in Girls, but it's pretty damn great.  It gives 2013 such a purpose for me.  Go read the lyrics or just listen to this song.  Last night, my first night back in Louisiana I made some pretty great memories to that song with some friends.  Dancing and laughing...oh, what a night it was.

My roommate Kathryn, her BFF Dan and I 

Cue Ellie Goulding playing in the background

What decisions have you made lately? Do you have a theme song for 2013? 

Cravings

I am currently craving:

The Fremont Troll in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood

• The Pacific Northwest, all of it, I want to go there in a cozy sweater and a cozy scarf, wearing my Frye boots and wrap my arms around it.
• Sitting in a pub in cold rainy weather with good company drinking a porter or a stout 
• Let's add a band that sounds like this playing in that pub
• Maybe a good night kiss that doesn't mean much, but feels good because the mood and atmosphere are just right (know what I mean?)
• A hot cup of coffee (w/cinnamon) walking down a cold rainy street all whilst window shopping among quirky boutiques

Capisce? 

What are you craving today?