Ten Years

I’m a huge fan of Gretchen Rubin.  You may have noticed this already.

I really got to thinking about some of the points Rubin brings up in The Happiness Project the other evening.  After spending a day full of catching up with friends, I took some time to myself (and the music on my iPhone) to take a late-night walk around my new neighborhood.

While on my walk, I saw some typical Madison sights.  Young men playing with a light-up Frisbee.  Friends sitting on porch stoops with cheap lager in their hands.  Couples out walking, hand-in-hand, with a dog on a leash.  Everything seemed so magical, and peaceful, that night.

I took my walk in awe.  I listened to my music and watched the hum of people around me.  I was feeling so blissfully happy in that moment, it is hard to really explain the great feeling I possessed in that moment.

As I walked, I started to get into the groove of the music.  Dancing a little here and there.  Of course, I was thinking no one was really paying much attention to me.  I couldn’t be further from the truth.  Just as I was strutting a bit to Daft Punk, a car parked on the side of the road turned over its engine and the headlights went on.  I was caught in the act of dancing and making a fool of myself, but I could not find any part of me to care.

After my walk, I went to the park a block away from my house.  I walked over to the swings and sat down.  It had been years since the last time I played on playground equipment, and with the weather so nice, I sat down and started pumping my legs.  Within a few moments, my swing was gliding through the air higher than I had expected it to.  I sat on the swing for over an hour, thinking about the joy that had recently come to my life and the hard work I had accomplished in the recent past.

I could feel the joy radiating off of my body.  I had the largest grin on my face, which was thankfully hidden in the darkness.  I could not stop the toothy smile from creeping across my face; it was wonderful and perfect.

All the time I was swinging, I was thinking of Gretchen and her theory of your happiness.  What made you happy when you were ten-years-old will probably be the same thing that will make you happy throughout your life.  In all honesty, not much has truly changed about myself in the past fifteen years.  Yes, I have matured.  Yes, I listen to different music.  Yes, I have a new pair of glasses.

But in the end, the things I am most passionate about are the same.  I could not live in a world without reading.  I still want to work in librarianship.  I cannot not dance to music.  I love wearing ugly flannel shirts over graphic t-shirts.  And, most of all, I love spending a starry night sitting under a tree, swinging away at a park.

There is a large part of me that romanticizes the idea of parks.  I went on a fantastic late-night date with a now ex-boyfriend at a park where we sat on a park swing and talked for hours.  I have always dreamt of getting photos taken on a park swing — which I somehow didn’t for my high school senior photos.  I had one of the best days in my high school career sitting on the middle school swing set with some of my closest friends one afternoon in the final weeks of our senior year.  There is probably something to be said of my connection to working for a Parks and Recreation Department for four years, and even after that time volunteering to be on the Parks Department City Council committee.

I still love the same things I did when I was ten, and those are the things that make me happiest in life.  I’m so thankful to be living less than a block away from a place of such happiness, and will try to cherish it as much as I can this summer.

Rockstar Week

My friend Maya (check her out at Charmingly Styled) had a Rockstar Week a few months ago.  While in Paris, she was informed she got a job in the city she loves so dearly.  A friend of hers dubbed that week her “Rockstar Week” and we discussed how we all need to have those weeks full of great news.

I knew I had a Rockstar Week coming my way.  But, I didn’t realize when it was going to happen and I had no idea what was all about to come my way.  Welp, here is what went down last week:

I moved back to Madison.

I was offered full-time employment.

All of the complicated paperwork for my apartment in the fall got ironed out — and I found out the cost of rent went down significantly.

So, three HUGE things in my life were determined quickly and efficiently.

Plus, there were some other things that just made the week beyond wonderful.  I saw the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, my favorite man on State Street (Scanner Dan) hit on me — twice!, I met a great family by giving them directions to the University Bookstore, I explored the UW Geology Museum, and I went to the Farmer’s Market.

Oh yeah, I also sat next to hockey legend Steve Yzerman at lunch on Friday.

This past week has been full of amazing events, fun memories, and catching up with people I love so dearly.  I challenged myself to an intense spin class at CYC Madison, had a few cold beers on the Memorial Union Terrace, and biked around the city.  I have a large bundle of library books checked out, meaning I’m relaxing on my bed and reading like a fiend.

The best part?  The excitement isn’t quite over yet!  I have another big newsworthy surprise coming up this week, and this coming weekend I see one of my greatest friends marry the love of her life.  Really, life couldn’t be better.

Friday’s Fancies: Wedding Season

Friday's Fancies: Wedding Season

I am so excited to be heading to two weddings of sorority sisters this summer!  In just over a week, one of my closest friends — and one of the first people I met on the Ripon College campus — is getting married just outside of Madison.

I am elated to attend her big, special day.  And what better event to dress up and feel gorgeous for?  I stumbled upon this alice + olivia dress at bop, the brick and mortar store of Shopbop.com on super sale, and it fit like a glove.  Seriously, this dress flatters the parts of my body I want to show off (my legs, butt, arms) and hides the areas I want to hide (tummy, mainly).  You can see the model can’t help but have a little strut in her stance, and I’m for sure a little sassier while wearing this dress.

I’m pairing it with some simple Kate Spade Saturday jewelry, a pair of old nude wedges (actually from Nine West ages ago), and a bright pop of pink with a Kate Spade clutch.  Sadly, the clutch is sold out online, but how cute is this bag?  Must. Not. Buy.

Now that I’m outfitted for the big day, and know how I’m doing my hair and makeup, I just have to wait.  I’m excited for this wedding — I can’t imagine how excited the bride is!  (Actually, I know.  We shared over coffee the other day!)

Enjoy your weekend.  Hope it is as lovely and sun-filled as mine will be.

shelovedlifeff

Oh I Wish

Living in Madison has one truly awesome perk.  There is an Oscar Mayer factory on the Northeast side of town, meaning there is a lot of pride in this city for the Oscar Mayer brand.  There is also a library on the Oscar Mayer campus in Madison with a full-time librarian.  I’m glad I could teach you a fun fact today.

Last night, I was driving to trivia out in Sun Prairie to meet up with friends, when I saw one of the Oscar Mayer Wienermobiles parked in a shopping center parking lot right off of East Wash.  I screamed in excitement, no joke, and went a little out of my way to snap some photos of the iconic vehicle.  While this isn’t the first time I’ve seen the Wienermobile in town, there is something that makes me turn into a six-year-old whenever I see it.  Sadly, the driver wasn’t around to hand out a whistle, but I was content just seeing the car.

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It was a pretty rainy day yesterday, complete with Tornado Watches and rolling thunderstorms.  The rain seemed to lighten up for a few moments as I ran out of my car for these photos.

 

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I love that Oscar Mayer doesn’t take themselves too seriously, and are able to get a little corny with their license plates.

 

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Of course, I grabbed a terrible self-photo in front of the logo.  What else would I do in the situation, really?

Even though I had a “rockstar” day yesterday due to other news, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile sighting may just have been the absolute cherry on top of one of the best days of summer so far.

 

Summer in the City

Yesterday, I took the Madison B-cycle out for a ride.  I love seeing how Madison changes and evolves into summer, and what better way to spend a Monday by hopping on my bike and seeing the sights?

I grabbed a free bike from Camp Randall, just a few blocks from my sublet.  I took a bit of the Southwest Commuter Path up to East Campus Mall, then rode up to the Capitol via State Street.

It felt so good to be back on a bike.  I’m definitely purchasing one later on this summer, mark my words.

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These fun red bikes are a great way to get in some exercise for a relative price and see the best parts of the city.

 

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I took a break from my ride when I got to the Capitol.  I purchased a bottle of water and laid on the grass on the lawn.  I thought about cracking my book open, but decided to take in everything around me.  I watched people heading home from work, families out with their children sight seeing, and others headed to State Street.

Even though I’ve taken the B-cycle out previously, and have lived in the city for over two years before, this may be one of my favorite memories of Madison.
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The closest station to my house is by Camp Randall, the football stadium.  It was funny — I walked past Camp Randall over eight times today, either on my way to the library, to grab some quick coffee, or just to head out and explore.  Needless to say, it’s exciting to see such a huge part of the spirit of Madison.

I took time to really inspect the arch today.  This time, I took note of Old Abe on the top.  For those of you not in the know, Old Abe is a Civil War mascot/soldier from Wisconsin.  Yes, an eagle was apart of the cavalry.  I love how the city is surrounded by history, surrounded by happiness, surrounded by comfort.

Madison is definitely my home sweet home.

Go Play

I had such a peaceful move to Madison.  It felt like moving in at summer camp.  I put my clothing in closets and drawers, made my bed, and was moved in.  I couldn’t ask for anything better.

Today, I’m running errands.  Paying off my library card fines, reading in the park, and taking time for myself.  There is a flurry of busy heading my way in the coming days, so I have to enjoy this calm before the eventual storm.  Exciting?  Yes.  Worth it?  Absolutely.

In these few days before things get too busy, this is my life motto:

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via: unknown

 

Enjoy your summertime.

Jumping In

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Please don’t mind my excessively cheesy face from yesterday — I was quite excited yesterday morning at the gas station.  With my hair pulled back in a messy french braid, my feet clad in flip flops, and my car packed full of belongings, I was off to my move to Madison.

Why yes, I’m back home.

Madison is home for me.  It’s where so many memories were created as I was in graduate school.  I have made mistakes here, have championed exciting life events, and have fallen in love with a city harder than I ever thought possible.  I love that I’m within walking distance to Trader Joe’s, Greenbush Bakery, and Camp Randall.  I love having the comforting feeling that I am doing something right with my life.

I took the plunge to move without having a solid job.  It’s a bit terrifying to do so, but I’m subletting for the summer and realizing it is a lot easier to be in the city I want to work in.  Instead of long commutes to interviews, I now only have a twenty minute drive — at most — to the jobs I would love to work for.  The cost of gas, as well as the opportunity cost of what I could be doing with a six-hour commute, made this opportunity the smartest decision I have made in the recent past.

I have friends here, from high school, college, and graduate school.  These friends have become family to me, and although I’m far away from my sisters and parents, I’m still loved here.

My sublet is the most adorable little room in a huge house.  I have my  own bathroom (!!!) and have decorated a bit to make the room feel like home.  I can honestly say I couldn’t be happier, or luckier, with the way things worked out.  It’s funny how all of a sudden the puzzle pieces all fit together at once.