// Small Celebrations - v.2

I just realized that I haven't shared a "Small Celebrations" post since February! What! There are so many things to be stoked about right now! After spending the entire day on Wednesday in the hospital, and trying to play a mad game of "Catch Up" the rest of the week, I could use some positivity. How about you?

My list of (awesome) little things includes:

1. Nightly cotton candy skies! Isn't that photo up there unreal?! I know the gorgeous pink is partly due to entirely too much pollution in our atmosphere, but I really do love seeing those skies. They only linger around for a few minutes, so you have to catch them at just the right time. Totally a great reminder to just take a few minutes to yourself and look up.
2. Being so close to meeting Baby Flynn! We were pretty sure he was coming on Wednesday thanks to pitocin-induced contractions (3.5 hours of contractions 1.5 minutes apart! AH!) but luckily he managed to pass the Oxytocin Challenge Test and we were sent home. It was a huge reality check in the sense that he will be here any moment now and we're still not really "ready"... Though are you ever?! I can't wait to kiss his face, fingers and toes... I keep lingering around his nursery, picking up his tiny socks and shoes, and thinking about how crazy different life is going to be so soon!
3. Family who have gone above and beyond in these last few days. My mom has carted me to my last 3 doctor's appointments, sat with me in the hospital on multiple occasions now, and taken many days off work just to ensure I'm not overwhelmed with everything that has been happening lately. Mike's parents have been so supportive and attentive, and they've offered to help take Toby off our hands during the busy/stressful parts of this whole "birthing a baby" thing. It's so great knowing we have so many people to rely on if/when needed.
4. Finishing up design projects. I'm finally at the tail end of my insanely-overbooked-schedule and I'm am so excited! I only have 1 design installation and 1 logo project to complete, and then I'm pretty much just hanging out until this kid decides to show up. I'm not convinced I'll finish either project before he shows up, but that's mainly just due to client schedules. Crossing my fingers!
5. Shaving my legs (all by myself!) at 38 weeks pregnant! This one probably sounds absolutely ridiculous, but when you've got a big ol' belly between you and your knees, shaving is tough! I may or may not have gotten stuck in the bathtub at one point. Lesson learned: don't turn sideways with your legs over the side of the tub when you have absolutely no way of hoisting yourself out... That was a bit of a challenge. I was able to shave my legs, but there's no way I can paint my toenails... so Mike stepped up to the plate for that one haha! He's a good egg.
6. My editorial calendar/planner. I'm a few months into using my new editorial calendar and planner and I'm still loving it! That's so rare for me as I've always wanted to be a "planner girl" but eventually I just work my way out of it. This planner I picked up from Target seems to be just the ticket though. Don't worry, I'm still planning on sharing more about it soon so you can maybe benefit from the amazingness that is an editorial calendar!
7. New ink pens! I love when new pen day rolls around! haha Right now I'm alternating between 12 different fun Paper Mate Flair pens (they're sort of felt-tipped, like Sharpie pens, but they don't bleed through the paper and they're so pretty to look at!)
8. These last few park dates with just me and Toby. Pushing him on the swings, watching him climb like a monkey on the jungle gym... They're small but special moments.
9. Waking up in our "new" bedroom. We still haven't totally completed the "makeover" just yet, but I love waking up there each morning. The light bouncing off the soft blue walls, seeing the big tissue paper flowers floating over the side of the room, and hearing the hum of the fan. It's amazing what a little tweaking to your space can do for your mood.
10. New client inquiries! I know #4 was all about finishing up my project obligations, but I'm already excited about my schedule once I return from "maternity leave" (Ha! Like that's a real thing when you own your own business...) I already have some design clients lined up, as well as some Him + Honey photo gigs, and plenty of sign orders. It's definitely helping me feel more at peace with stepping away for a few days/weeks.
11. Getting Him + Honey photo scans back! AHHH! It's like Christmas every time our FTP email comes through.Whether it's personal work or client work, we get so giddy when we open them up. There's just something so incredibly magical about seeing a photo for the first time after a shoot. It's so gratifying!
12. A clean house. One of the (ridiculous) reasons I was totally not ready to bring Baby Flynn into the world on Wednesday was because I kept going over in my head "Oh my gosh, our house is SO not clean! I need to mop! And do laundry! And clear off the carport!" haha Of course I certainly wouldn't let that stop the kid from making his grand entrance (uh, how could I?!), but I'm glad we had the opportunity to devote a little time and energy to the state of our abode yesterday. I just feel so much more relaxed when things are neat and tidy... though it's rare these days. I know my house will be the last thing on my list of priorities soon so I'm trying to at least help myself feel comfortable at first!

There we have it! I know some of those are much more major than "small" celebrations, but even still, they're on the list! I'm feeling especially happy and excited today, even though I'm headed back to the doctor for yet another non-stress test this morning. Here's to hoping Baby Flynn plays it cool and I don't get carted off to the hospital again for an induction! But if I do, let's just hope it all goes well and he makes it here safely!

What little things are you celebrating today?

// Trump The Frump: 20 Ways To Beat A Bad Mood

(photo via)

Yesterday was a weird day. Everything just felt off since waking up. I had a sore throat, I was quick to temper, and no matter what I did, I just couldn't find it in myself to be productive. You know how it goes, right? I had hoped to come home from dropping Toby off at school and knock my to do list out of the park... Instead I moped on the couch, took a 1.5 hour nap, and finished season one of Orphan Black. It wasn't one for the books, I'll tell ya. Nothing was particularly wrong, but I just felt like I was off my game. Now I'm not one to think it's bad to have those days. In fact, I know their importance in the grand scheme of things. I'm not obsessed with the idea of making everything sunshine and unicorns all the time... but at the same time, I like to actively try to turn my days around. If I can salvage them, I want to. But yesterday just wasn't happening.

I started my day by polling my Instagram followers, asking for their tips and tricks on making the most of a rough start. I really loved all of the responses! Some were more helpful than others, but they each had merit. Many of them were pregnancy-centric so they may not be the most helpful for a wider audience, but I did manage to compile my own list while sprinkling some of their wisdom in.

Here are some ways to help beat a crappy mood:

1. Document everything that makes you smile. Whether it's the perfect cup of coffee, a delectable brunch, or flowers on a sidewalk, take a moment to capture life's little rays of sunshine. (Bonus points if you share it with others! Post an Instagram of the moment to inspire someone else!)
2. Take a cat nap. Try and wake up on the other side of things. Even 10 or 15 minutes can help reset your mood.
3. Pay it forward. Pay for the purchase of the person behind you. This works great in a drive-thru setting so that it can be quick and almost-anonymous, but even if you're in a store or a restaurant, spreading the wealth can make you feel great, and it positively benefits another person, too!
4. Greet every person you meet. Whether it's a simple "Good morning!" or a "How are you?," a little acknowledgement goes a long way. If you're too shy to speak, offer up a friendly smile while passing. You never know who might need that small gesture, and it feels awesome to have it reciprocated.
5. Get some sunshine! 95% of my mood is based on how much sunshine (Vitamin D!) I get. Even closing the windows and doors in favor of the A/C dampens my demeanor. A few minutes of the sun's warmth will do you a world of good! (Just don't forget the SPF!)
6. Say five things you're grateful for every hour until you break the funk. (via @morrisonlane)
7. Turn on Pandora to your favorite station and give yourself a manicure. (via @meg_tini)
8. Share something positive! Whether it's a quick tweet or telling someone your favorite affirmation, a little positivity goes a long way.
9. Perform a random act of kindness. This can be anything! (Here are 350+ ideas to get you started!)
10. Indulge in your favorite meal. Happy bellies mean happy minds, right? Or something... Even if your favorite treat is less-than-healthy, indulge a little! It's hard to be upset when you've satisfied a craving.
11. Go for a run or get some exercise. Endorphins and serotonin for the win!
12. Just sit for 2 full minutes... Don't move. Just be. (I'm a huge fan of this website!)
13. Do something creative! Paint something for your home, sew something for your wardrobe, or create a gift for someone "just because." Channel your inner artist and create something interesting from the situation.
14. Look through old pictures and reminisce. This is so easy with blogs, Facebook, Instagram, etc. Sometimes I just love to lay down and look through my camera roll on my phone. Remembering happy moments can make a huge difference in your mood!
15. Create a mixtape or playlist to use any time you're feeling down in the dumps. A few of my favorite songs to listen to are: "Not Your Year" by The Weepies (it helps me feel all the feels!) and "Creepin' In" by Norah Jones and Dolly Parton (I just love their voices together!) Find what mix of songs helps do it for you. Whether upbeat or slow tempo, you'll find the magic balance.
16. Plant something in your yard or garden. This will help you get some fresh air and sunshine (Hey #5!) and it'll help produce something beautiful down the road. How can you not smile when you see something grow from (almost) nothing?
17. Google something random that you've been curious about before. I love getting lost in the Wikipedia rabbit hold. I sometimes Google something and find myself still reading about it 2 hours later... Not only does it distract me from a yucky mood, but it also helps me learn. Everyone loves to know random bits of information, right?
18. Encourage someone. Jess does this SO well and I'm always so touched by her selflessness. I love that she gets her toddler son involved, too. She regularly crochets items for strangers and lets her son hand out flowers to strangers. It really falls in line with #9, but it's worth mentioning in it's own bullet point!
19. Hide notes and positive affirmations all around town. In books at the library, on the mirrors in the fitting room, or in the pockets of clothing at the store... Little reminders that say things like "You are wonderful!" "You look great today!" etc. It may sound silly, but just imagine how lovely it would be to find something like that on a random day.
20. Just feel all of the feels! Be sad, or upset, or bored, or whatever... Just feel what you're feeling. You can think about it and dissect it, or you can just be. Allow the mood to move through you so you can then move on. There's nothing wrong with sacrificing yourself to an overwhelming mood. Yesterday I needed that "off" day... I needed to just "be" and watch tv. Sure, I didn't get much done, but I felt better because I just allowed myself to be.

What are some of your favorite ways to break the funk?

// Seeking Monday Motivation

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Normally I love Mondays. There's usually just something about getting back in the groove after avoiding the office all weekend. I find it refreshing and usually very productive. This Monday is not like all other Mondays. For some reason I've been dreading the start of this week like the plague. It's probably just because I have a laundry list of things to do today, and little motivation. But rather than sulk about it all day, I'm going to try and turn it into something much more positive.

This is one of my favorite pins on my "Wise Words" pinboard and I wanted to share it. I'm totally one of those people who love cheesy, motivational quotes and posters. Maybe not the super cliche ones, but whatever, I'll still pin them haha! Lately I've been trying to remind myself that any time I feel down in the dumps, I can usually at least make the situation a little more enjoyable by finding the positivity. It's been a while since I've practiced my daily affirmations in positivity, so maybe I should start back. (Though I totally understand how side-eye worthy that sounds haha!)

So now I want to ask you: What's the best/most motivating quote you've come across lately? Let's all share the wealth! Surely I'm not the only one that needs a gentle push on Monday mornings, right? ;)