Valentine season is upon us and love is in the air! Wait, is that love or just oppressive forces of American consumerism telling us that the only way to show your love is to buy a ton of meaningless crap, none of which anyone needs? :)

Well, one nice part of the holiday that doesn't revolve around marketing campaigns is it does encourage you to connect with those you love. A nice way to connect (especially with your long distance friends/family/secret lovers) is through a good old-fashioned hand written card, don't you think?

Stupid Card // Be Kind // Wouldn't Last // Thank You

I have a recent obsession with Emily McDowell - her cards are beautiful, whimsical, and (most importantly to me) funny! 

Browse through her stuff for design inspiration! She also has awesome tote bags. (If I didn't have an entirely too many bags, I'd go for this one. (See note above about American consumerism.)) My second-favorite part of Valentine's Day? Candy heart consumption, natch.

Random Acts of Snowy Kindness

I suppose the reason I didn't take a picture of my car this morning was I didn't want to risk taking my gloves off for 10 seconds to snap one. My little Honda Civic had transformed into an igloo. Nearly six inches of snow were coating my tiny Civic, and I was armed with nothing but my half scraper/half brush to unearth it from winter's wrath.

This wouldn't have been so bad, had the car not been surrounded by feet of snow ("plowed in"), and had I not approached it to find a parking ticket. I was parked on the wrong side of the road during a "Madison snow emergency" -- there's no signage for this stuff, you're just supposed to know. At least they didn't tow me. I thought. And then immediately changed my mind. If they had towed me, at least I wouldn't have to scrape my car off right now.

I started brushing. There are many reasons I've never considered running a marathon. One key reason is I don't have the mental fortitude to do the same thing over and over again without going absolutely insane. I brushed and brushed and brushed and brushed and brushed and brushed (etc.) and then looked at my car only to see I had hardly made a dent. So. Much. Snow. 

I was certain I was going to spend the rest of my existence on this earth brushing snow off of my car. I took small solace in that fact that, at least I was right: I always knew a Wisconsin winter would be the end of me.

I sat in the car to warm up, then reemerged to continue brushing. (What else is there? I've heard some people some places might be doing different activities, but my existence was reduced to that of a incessant snow brusher.) It was then I slipped and fell, landing on a fluffy mountain of snow. Now I was coated in it, just like my poor car. If I were six, I would have laughed, but I'm 26, so I swore.

It was only after unearthing my reliable Civic that I realized how foolish I'd been: The brushing was the least of my concerns. I was never going to be able to get out of my parking spot.

Maybe I'll be able to just drive out. I thought like a moron.

I revved up my engine and drove back and forth and back and forth, my car making terrible noises, tires spinning furiously, moving no where. I would never make it out.

I saw a man who I would probably call a hipster walk by holding a tennis racket, which made absolutely no sense. I kept spinning my tires, futilely. Jealous of anyone walking. Why do cars even exist? They're no match for mother nature.

Suddenly, the hipster man was at my window, "Can I help?" he asked.

"I think I'm screwed," I responded, "I don't have a shovel." 

"I have a tennis racket!" he answered, and started scooping and moving snow like a professional, as if his racket were designed for this very purpose.

I sat there, stunned. Why was this man helping me?

Then he pushed my car while I accelerated, and it made some progress, though was still not entirely un-stuck. Another woman clad in business clothes came to help push. Then a third person. I was overwhelmed with gratitude. Why did these people care about me and my car? But care they did. They pushed and dug and pushed, and within no time, I was on my way!

"Yay!" one of the pushing woman exclaimed as I emerged from my terrible plowed in spot onto the road.

"Thank you so much!" I shouted to the three helpers as I drove away. 

But I'll never be able to fully thank them, the three generous people who decided to take time out of their busy mornings to help a desperate girl, with no chance of getting repaid. I don't even know their names. But I do know, at least today, that the kindness of the Wisconsin people outshone the fury of Wisconsin's weather.

Weekly Favorites: Have a fun (last January) weekend.

I always get a little happy when January is over. I know it's bad to admit that I wish away months, but with the post-holiday slump and the WEATHER (mostly the weather), it's nice to feel that you're taking one step closer to the occasional day where going outside doesn't require an excessive amount of outerwear.

The difference between Pennsylvania (where I grew up/went to college) cold and Wisconsin (where I live) cold is you are CRAZY if you don't wear a hat or gloves at all times in the Wisconsin winter.

So, let's take solace in the fact that we nearly have a 100% winter month under our belts.

walking on a frozen Monona Bay last weekend.

A few links for your weekend/procrastinating during your very-last January Friday:

In the spirt of me just getting Netflix: The 101 Best Written TV Shows

Only in Iowa would this be a headline.

Still speaking of Netflix (#cantstopwontstop), this show is being called the most feminist show on television - and it was one of your recommendations!

How can you help kids with cancer? VACCINATE YOUR CHILDREN. (In case you need more (sad) inspiration to do so.)

On a lighter note: My new favorite hilarious instagram account.

Elle asked men inane questions on the red carpet, usually reserved for women. #flipthescript

I love how this fiction piece from the New Yorker is about a banal occurrence that's also a life-altering experience.

This story makes me love Good Will Hunting even more. (As if that were possible.)

I obviously have a thing for memoirs written by inspiring females - so I'm pretty sure I need this book.

I'm four yoga classes away from doing yoga 20 times in one month, and crossing off another item on my 101 in 1001 list. If you're bored this weekend, make a list :)

Happy weekend, homies! xx

Wednesday Wordplay: Sponsored by the Letter M

Wordplay Wednesday is a series that originated because I am an aspiring writer with a relatively pathetic vocabulary. :) Saving the world one definition/word origin at a time.

I'm channeling my inner Sesame Street and deeming this week sponsored by the letter M. Because this week? My creativity is hovering around the 4 year-old level. :) Perfect for alliteration aficionados. Oh, and bonus: cat pictures! Because Wednesday.

malaise - n. 1. a condition of general bodily weakness or discomfort, often marking the onset of a disease. 2. a vague or unfocused feeling of mental uneasiness, lethargy, or discomfort.

He couldn't pinpoint the root cause of his overwhelming malaise, so he finally scheduled a doctor's appointment.

maudlin - adj. 1. tearfully or weakly emotional; foolishly sentimental. 2. foolishly or mawkishly sentimental because of drunkenness.

I was enjoying the book but then the author dipped into maudlin prose about love, and it felt so cliché.

I just want to talk on the phone without her going on a maudlin rant, you know?

maunder - verb (used without an object) 1. to talk in a rambling, foolish, or meaningless way 2. to move, go, or act in an aimless, confused manner.

The brothers maundered through life, without the slightest hint of an ambition.

miscreant - adjective 1. depraved, villainous, or base. noun 2. a vicious or depraved person; villain

It seemed he was nothing but a miscreant, as she had feared all along.

misanthropy - noun 1. hatred, dislike, or distrust of humankind

You're too young to be misanthropic.

Tywin has an obsession with licking Stephen's hair - it's amazing.

That's it! I just realized most of these words are super negative, no? Well, have a magnificent rest of your week! xx

Netflix Newbie: Seeking Recommendations

Stephen and I welcomed ourselves to the 21st century Friday night and....got Netflix!!

We held out for so long because it was thoroughly entertaining telling friends "I don't have Netflix" and seeing them react with an exaggerated, appalled gasp, as if I actually had said "I don't have running water OR electricity."

However, the winter weather, end of NFL season*, and lack o' cable got the best of us.

Recap of our progression as a couple: We moved in together in August, got a kitten in October, and got Netflix in January. Our chances of leaving our apartment for, well, anything decrease by the month! If only I grocery shopped regularly.

*I realize there's still the Super Bowl left but the PATRIOTS vs the SEAHAWKS? It's like the two most cocky boys in high school competing for Prom King. Yawn. The commercials better be legendary.

I believe one of the most attractive qualities is when someone knows when to ask for help. So, I beseech thee, what am I supposed to watch on Netflix!?

Tywin is so not impressed with our new sedentary Netflix lifestyle.

So far the series deemed necessary to watch by some friends are:

1. Sherlock
2. House of Cards
3. Orange is the New Black
4. Gilmore Girls

...any other must sees? Which is the best?

I'm reading the memoir Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison now, so decided to hold off on watching that immediately, but I should finish the book up this week. Stephen and I started House of Cards and are almost done with Season 1 (oops! Very Important Question: How does one go to sleep at a decent hour when one has Netflix? Also: who knew I could give a crap about a show about politics? So addicting!)

We also watched two documentaries** that were really eye-opening: Food, Inc. and Living on One Dollar. My whole life I've been an "I eat-whatever-then-I-exercise-a-lot-to-make-up-for-it" person but Food Inc. has me considering vegetarianism. Very disturbing how food is mass-produced in this country. Watch it! But be forewarned: you're not going to be able to look at a chicken the same way.

**Because getting off the couch on weekends is so overrated.

Living On One Dollar followed 4 college boys as they lived in Guatemala for 56 days, mimicking making $1/day, and trying to live in the extreme circumstances. I've had some exposure to the horrendous levels of poverty around the world, because I've sponsored a World Vision child for a while now (and my parents have sponsored one for my whole life). Still, it's always good to keep things in perspective and expose yourself to what's going on in all parts of the world. Check out the Living on One website and if you have any interests/questions about World Vision Child Sponsorship feel free to let me know!

So, we've enjoyed Netflix so far but I feel like it's a huge, deep well that I've only barely skimmed the surface of the water. What should we watch? What shouldn't we watch? Assume I know nothing about television. Let's face it, I don't. I got Netflix in calendar year 2015, after all.

Friday Field Trip: Lessons from Yoga

For Christmas, Stephen got me an unlimited monthly pass for yoga at The Studio in Madison. This is a very good gift! Especially in January (when gyms are packed and it's usually unbearably freezing out.) It's also on my 101 in 1001 list to do yoga 20 times in a month and can I just take a second to say WTF WAS I THINKING WHEN I RANDOMLY PICKED THE NUMBER 20?! I'm pretty sure I've done yoga 20 times IN 26 YEARS before this month (see detailed love/hate relationship here), but now I've done it 11 times so far in January (yes, I'm a little behind, but I do have until February 2.) All that to say: be ye not so stupid when setting arbitrary fitness goals.

There's tea in the waiting room before & after class.

Still, my experience with my month of yogi-hood has been a positive one! The only bad part is now I'm worried about hitting my goal, and find myself focusing on metrics rather than enjoying my yoga practice itself. So I would encourage you to "hit the mat" if you get a chance, just don't make it about counting classes, make it about taking time for yourself to help your mind and body.

I thought I'd share today a couple memorable gems from my yoga instructors today.

"You can't force your body to relax, but you can invite it to." 


I've had trouble sleeping lately (I think it has to do with too much screen time before bed), and I've found when I get worked up about not falling asleep right away, it only makes things worse. That's when I remember this quote, and focus on relaxing different parts of my body and my breath* and it can really help me fall asleep.

*Breath is very important in yoga. If yoga places had liquor licenses, I'd propose drinking every time an instructor says breath.

"Shed the negative dialogue."

One of my teachers is really into this concept and at first it sounds cliché but I actually really like it.

First off, it's very applicable during yoga because a lot of times I'll think "I can't wait to get out of this stupid pose." or "Ugh, we're going to have to do this all again on the other foot!" or "For the love of God, can we just have a single class WITHOUT doing pigeon?" These example thoughts are coming a little too easily.

Then, there's life in general, when it's so easy to have a sound track of negative thoughts playing in the back of your mind, which can be, of course, limiting. But sometimes we get so used to them we're practically immune to the self-negativity -- and shedding those thoughts is so freeing.

the waiting room over looks a (now frozen) Lake Monona

I like that she doesn't say "Stop thinking negatively!" which can come off as abrasive, and lead to further rounds of self-criticism, e.g. "Oh my gosh I can't believe I'm thinking that, I'm such an awful person for having that thought."  Rather, "Shed the negative dialogue." Accept that negative dialogue will likely be there, and just cue Elsa and Let. It. Go.

So, there you have it, my friends, one of the least-likely people to say "OM" in the entire world learning something from yoga. :) Physically, it also has made me pretty sore (teacher-dependent) on days. Overall, I'm really enjoying the mental aspects more than I anticipated of practicing regularly. Wishing you a happy weekend! Namaste, homies.

Let's Read...Poetry?

Do you read poetry? The reason I ask is, even as an English major, I somehow avoided taking a single poetry class. I mean, I'd get all jazzed up over The Nineteenth Century English Novel and could talk for days about unconventional reads in Topics in Gender Studies but....poetry? Poems? 22 year old me just couldn't get into it.

Well, 26 year old me (thankfully) has some different interests than 22 year old me. And poetry is a newfound one.

In Tiny Beautiful Things Cheryl Strayed is asked to give one piece of advice to people in their twenties, and she says: "To go to a bookstore and buy ten books of poetry and read them each five times." This got me thinking about how little time I've spent with poems, and I became determined to change that.

I picked up these 3 books of poems for Stephen for our 5 year anniversary in January:

Birthday Letters by Ted Hughes 

In the Winter of Cities by Tennessee Williams 

William Wordsworth Selected Poetry

I am really enjoying reading each of them, especially Birthday Letters. Do you know the story of Ted Hughes? Stephen got us tickets to see a play by him, Alcestis, at American Players Theatre this October (crossing off an item on my 101 in 1001 list!), which piqued my interest. He was married to poet Sylvia Plath (who famously committed suicide, allegedly in part because Hughes was having an affair) -- and all poems in Birthday Letters except for two are addressed to her. As you might imagine, many of the poems are darkly enchanting.

I find it relaxing to read a few poems before going to bed, and realize that in the wide world of poetry -- I'm still a newbie! What poets should I check out? Any modern poets? Any old-school poets? I'm all ears!

p.s. I am also enjoying the whimsical illustrations, quotes, and poetry in Something Like Magic by Brian Andreas.