Favorite Things I’m Thankful For

Good morning and happy Friday!
And happy MAY!
And praise the Lord for sunshine!

I didn’t know when the rain would finally stop but after 72 hours of straight downpour, we have sunshine ya’ll. And it feels so dang good.

This weekend Kelli and I are planning on meeting some friends downtown for Fridays After Five and then meeting Whit at Monsoon for dinner. Saturday will include the farmer’s market, perhaps a Bodo’s bagel and a long walk with Jess in the afternoon. But other than that who knows! What do you all have going on?

Since it’s Friday I was thinking about how I haven’t done a Feel Good Friday in forever. And whatever life is throwing at you this week, there’s always something to feel good about!

This week I’m feeling good about turning in the keys to my old apartment yesterday. Done and done! Boxes are all packed and I’m living out of a couple suitcases in Kelli’s apartment for the next couple weeks. But I’m SO excited about this entire move and transition, so being a little unstable for a bit is totally part of the journey.

I’m also feeling good about all the donating, throwing away, and cleaning out that I did this past week. It feels SO good to simplify my life! Spring cleaning was at a whole new level last week.

On this Friday I’m feeling good about our lease being accepted for the apartment in New York! I’ll be living with two other girls- one is a grad student at NYU and is totally awesome and the other just graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois and will be applying to NYU next year. She’s awesome too. I was a little nervous applying because the application standards for NYC are intense and I had to have a co-signer since I’ll be a student. I am a total newbie when it comes to figuring out how things work in NYC so I’m learning! The apartment is in the Harlem/Hamilton Heights area near Central Park and City College and the street is lined with brownstones. I feel so incredibly blessed to have such an awesome [and affordable!] living situation.

This week I’m feeling super grateful for my momma, brothers and friends. I’m sure ya’ll feel the same way…but man, I feel like I’ve got the most incredible people in my life and I feel crazy blessed.

This week I’m feeling good about sleep! Oh my goodness since I stopped working a 9-5 job, my sleep has improved exponentially. But I don’t think it’s just the job that has helped, I’ve been so much more intentional about getting enough sleep. Often [or really, all the time] I need to take my own advice. Sleep is absolutely critical for maintaining a healthy weight, a healthy metabolism and good hormonal balance. Nowadays I don’t set an alarm and usually wake up around 7 or 7:15 after getting about 8 to 8 1/2 hours of super restful sleep. And I feel amazing! I know this is normal to many people but for me I use to get about 6 1/2 to 7 all the time and it took a toll on me. Sleep has become such a priority in my life [over email or a morning workout or whatever!] so I really want to keep that when I start school. It will be a challenge but I’m determined to still be getting 8 hours!

And I couldn’t leave you guys without some recipes I’ve been drooling over this week that I cannot wait to make! I think I’m going to whip up this banana bread for Kelli and I and take a loaf to a friend. I read a few healthy living blogs that are life-giving and healthy for me to read, but I’m really more of a recipe blog gal. And Minimalist Baker is hands down my favorite recipe blog. I want to make 99.9% of her recipes every time I see one and this bread is no exception.

Another thing I can’t wait to make…Amanda’s oatmeal cookie dough breakfast bake. Her recipes get me every time. Oats, chocolate, nut butter…it’s a done deal.

I hope ya’ll have an amazingly relaxing weekend soaking up some sunshine, spending time with those you love and eating something that tastes fabulous.

And always, laugh with your mouth full.