A Happy Birthday To Me

I love birthdays. I love my birthday. I love other peoples birthday. How awesome is it that everyone gets one whole day out of the year to celebrate themselves?! This past weekend was my day and it was full of so much joy. I am very fortunate to be surrounded by such fun and caring people who know how to make a girl feel special. Although you may not necessarily feel “one year wiser,” birthdays are always a good excuse to look a little deeper at the things in your world and where your feet may be planted in it’s soil.

In my new year I will strive to…

• Continue the journey of working hard to turn my vision of this blog into a reality.
• Achieve a consistently active lifestyle by incorporating more yoga and cardio into my daily routine.
• Travel somewhere new and enjoy the sights and sounds.
• Stop saying sorry.
• Take deeper breaths and let those heavy things go.
• Spend less money on things (okay, food) and more money on experiences.
• Reach out to far away friends and family more often.

Cheers,

SRS

A Grateful Heart

I take any reason to celebrate very, very seriously. I am not opposed to week long birthday extravaganzas or Christmas in November. Whether you’ll be spending Valentines Day at a romantic dinner or dancing enthusiastically to All The Single Ladies (like me) this applies to you.

Remember in 4th grade when you waited to get that special valentine from your crush, even though everyone in class received the same exact one? Remember when your Middle School decided a Valentines Dance was not going to be terribly awkward and you learned how to slow dance against your will? Remember when you watched your favorite Rom Com for the first time and sobbed for the full 90 minutes because you’re not Keira Knightly and no one will ever confess their love to you?

Good, now lets move on.

I may be the one in a million who finds so much joy in the season of love, despite my chronic singledom, and that's not okay with me! As we all know, love comes in many different forms--I love my mom, yoga, feeling beautiful, eating Chipotle, visiting a good friend, when I complete my to-do list, and one time I probably loved a boy. During this time of year it’s too easy to focus on all the hoopla that comes with planning for the big day or absolutely avoiding it, so I can totally see why there may be some aversion to the holiday. So maybe roses aren't your thing, you hate the taste of chocolate (who are you anyway), and you really despise Hallmark cards. That's okay! There's no need for us to limit our celebration to just a significant other (or lack thereof) when there are so many people, places, and things that inspire our happiness. Friends, no matter what stage of life you are in, there are plenty of reasons to revel in all kinds of love this week. Call up an old friend, bake a cake for your dog, or buy a non-chocolate candy bouquet for yourself...whatever you do, celebrate! Take a few extra moments this week to appreciate the things (or people I guess) in your life that make you feel loved, because you may just find that you don't have to look very far.

Cheers to loving others, and most importantly, loving ourselves,

SRS

Vulnerability in the New Year

I'm not sure I will ever experience a year so full of change as I did in 2014, and while change can be (and usually is) welcomed in my life, there was a limit that was far exceeded in my not so humble opinion. So let me just throw this out there and say HALLELUJAH for 2015 finally showing its face through the clouds. This post will not include a detailed summary of all the things I learned, achieved, battled, loved, and lost because that would just turn me into a crazy lady going on for hours. So let's just cut to the chase, huh?

Brene Brown's The Power of Vulnerability is a particular favorite TED Talk of mine. As I look back on the past year and envision the future, the concept of vulnerability is a perfect way to understand the place that I was and the place I hope to stay. While I happily bid farewell to the lows, it would be unfair to say they weren't opportune moments where my eyes became clearer and my heart a little stronger. This is what Brown describes in her TED Talk as being the cultivating moment where we as humans can reach our deepest potential--when we practice courage, compassion, authentic connection, and ultimately, vulnerability.

To allow vulnerability into your world and to open yourself up to criticism, change, love, movement, and unpredictability will not lead you a place of darkness, rather, one of so much meaning and joy. For the next 12 months I want to continue embracing the questions and opening myself up to the answers. What about you?

Cheers to another year,

SRS

Saying Hello

Tomorrow I will wake up, brush my teeth, fluff my hair, and make a cup of coffee. But, to say tomorrow is no different than today, is saying you're the same as you were 365 days ago. It's not. You're not. I'm not. 

This year was not easy and did not lack any sort of challenge or struggle. But it was full of so much laughter, so many memories, and lesson after lesson after lesson that has made me all the more stronger. Tonight I will eat too much, cheers too many, and have only hope and love in my heart. Tonight I will say goodbye, but tomorrow I will say hello a thousand more times. 

Cheers to the New Year,

SRS

I'll Be Home For Christmas

With the holidays in full swing, I've thought a lot about the concept of "going home" and how suddenly this involves planes, trains, or automobiles. I think there is a lot to be said about the particular place where you grew up, where your parents live, or where you just feel loved, appreciated, and the most comfortable. Today, however, I am remembering the place I go home to every day--where I kick off my shoes and learn how to live with myself.

The center cushion on my couch. The cushion that houses me when I rest my feet at the end of every long day. When I wake up leisurely on a Saturday morning and drink copious amounts of coffee and watch Food Network marathons, just because I can. When I greet friends who are passing through and have taken a few meaningful hours of their life to catch up. When I escape work to take a desperate lunch break, and some times forget to even eat lunch.

The left side of my bed. The side that welcomes me when the day is done. That has a few tea stains after a night of sipping my stress away (I leave wine for another room). That has seen a few dry eyes after staying up past my bedtime to read just 5 more pages. That has a seen a few not so dry eyes.

The only two windows. The windows that show me the stars. That catch me every morning as I wake up and every night as I fall asleep. That glimmer all of the lights that shine through the darkness. That make the cars and people below seem so small and the birds seem not so small.

The place where pictures are strung across the wall. The pictures that hold memories of laughter, joy, and love. That remind me, no matter where I go, home will always be where they are.

Cheers,

SRS

7 Day Recap

The most sure fire way to get through the week at lightening speed is to make sure its packed with events, social outings, and appointments galore! I have found that the busier I am, the more I am able to cherish moments to myself and get things accomplished when I'm on the go-go-go. My crazy week started during a spontaneous trip home to accompany my lovely mother at the Dance for the Cure gala. The dancers were amazing and the sparkle was just hypnotizing in so many ways. It always feels really good to support a wonderful cause, but to do so in style is a one-of-a-kind experience!

Although my trip ended with a terrible 3am wake up call on Monday morning, Thursday was another chance for me to take a deep breath and enjoy the evening. My college hosted an alumni reception event just down the street from my apartment. It was a relief to reminisce on the memories I made at the wonderful institution that I had the splendid opportunity to attend. My college days feel so far away, but it's always nice to know that I'll never be very far away from it's presence.

Saturday morning started bright and early as I joined some friends in the Heart Walk to raise money for the American Heart Association. It was a beautiful, crisp Fall morning, full of so many smiling faces. After the walk, we stopped by the Go Outside Festival, a huge weekend-long event with every outdoorsy thing imaginable. The goal of both events were to promote a healthy, active lifestyle...and it definitely worked for me!

Cheers to being busy,

SRS

First Things First

While not all first impressions leave lasting impressions, I certainly believe they are a big deal. So here I am, in all of my glory! My name is Stephanie and I've spent hours upon days upon years making my way through the world wide web, finding little pieces of myself in different corners of the blogosphere. I believe too strongly in horoscopes and always seem to be looking for a sign, so in true sunny spirit I have (finally) decided to just create my own sign, find my own answers, and take the pieces of myself and gather them into my own corner to share with all of you.


Cheers,

SRS