Welcome to Atlanta!

It’s been awhile since I have shared any updates- so much has changed in my life these past few months. I received a job offer at a commercial design firm in Atlanta and joined their hospitality studio. I love it because we focus on two of my favorite aspects of design- creating unique interiors for places such as hotels and restaurants and enhancing the experiences for people who use these various spaces.

Summer has flown by and I have been living in the city for 100 days! I absolutely adore Atlanta and consider it best described as a “big town with the heart of a small town”. While I miss the beach and my family in Florida, acclimating to the Atlanta lifestyle has been fairly smooth. Of course, my ability to adapt quickly can be attributed to having close friends and some family nearby (fresh biscuits and runs on the beltline have helped, too). I have enjoyed exploring the city and have too many favorites to fit in this post, so I will have to write a follow-up (or several) to share them all with you! Until then, I’ll be practicing ways to effortlessly incorporate “y’all” into my vocabulary.

Source: Rifle Paper Co.

Whole30

Never have these words rang truer – you are what you eat. Without sounding like I have joined some type of food cult, Whole30 is more than a diet- it’s about training your body and mind to have a more purposeful relationship with food.

Whole30 is a strict 30-day program that helps reset your body. It is a temporary (key word: temporary) elimination diet where you remove all dairy, grains, legumes, soy, added sugars (processed and natural), processed foods, and alcohol. After 30 days, you slowly reintroduce these foods back into your diet and see how your body reacts to it.

Before you think how “crazy” I am for doing this challenge, let me state that I am not claiming to be a nutritionist. I have simply found a program that works for me and am here to share the reasons that got me hooked. I generally live a healthy, active lifestyle. After an accumulation of unhealthy habits that I gained during grad school, though, I knew I needed to make a change. I had been feeling bloated and uncomfortable for months, was having a difficult time sleeping, and felt that my body was too dependent on sugar. I heard about the numerous benefits from others who had completed the Whole30 and wanted to see how it would work for me.

I absolutely love to cook- not only does it help me decompress, but I also enjoy knowing exactly what is going in my body. I love the idea of better understanding the relationship that I have with food and being more informed about the ingredients in even the “healthiest” of foods. This process has made me realize how many terrible ingredients simply sneak into our food. Personally, I do not want to eat anything listed on a nutrition label that I cannot pronounce.

This past August, I completed my first Whole30 challenge and felt incredible inside and out. Ever since, I have had a lot of people asking me about it. I am currently in the midst of my second Whole30 and can say that, once again, it is totally worth all of the effort. I feel lighter, I am sleeping sounder, I am managing stress much easier, and have tamed my "sugar dragon" (it's a Whole30 thing).

If you are contemplating your own Whole30, here are some tips based on my experience:

1. Find a buddy

When you are having sugar withdrawls and craving french fries, it can be helpful to have someone to give you a pep talk when you need it most. It is also pretty wonderful to have a sous chef by your side in the kitchen and, at the very least, someone with whom you can exchange recipe ideas. This person can also keep you in check when your tiger blood hits, and you can't stop unintentionally recruiting others by rambling about all of the yummy food you are cooking and how wonderful you feel because of the Whole30.

2. Plan your meals

While this requires A LOT of work, it is easier to commit to the program when you know exactly what you will be eating for your next meal. I try to select a couple of recipes where the ingredients overlap, so that I am strategic when grocery shopping. When I am in the kitchen, I usually turn on a podcast or a playlist and prep several meals at one time. The time goes by much faster than you think.

3. Do not obsess

While it can be easy to get sucked into a deep, dark whole of overanalyzing nutrition labels and shopping for the correct products, try not to be so hard on yourself. Find a few simple meals that you enjoy, and keep them in your repertoire. Do not make it harder by forcing yourself to try the wild recipe you found on pinterest that may or may not be compliant and requires 348240239 million ingredients which you do not own nor will you use again. The Whole Smiths and Paleo Running Momma are two of my favorite websites for inspiration.

4. Change your mindset

If losing weight is your main priority, change your perspective. While losing weight is typically a result from following the program, the Whole30 is all about eating wholesome, healthy foods that sustain your body. So go ahead and eat plenty of protein, healthy fats, and carbs. You will have an overwhelming amount of non-scale victories (another Whole30 term) to celebrate.

5. Treat yoself

Go take a fancy workout class, buy a new cooking gadget, and/or read a new book. Reward your dedication to the program with something other than food. During my first Whole30, I invested in a spiralizer to save time and money when making zoodles. This time around, I plan on treating myself to a spa day.

Let me know what kind of recipes you are interested in and I will share them in a future post!

Making Spirits Bright

It has been chilly (read: below 60 degrees) in Florida this past week which means I am officially in the holiday spirit! Some of my best Christmas memories are centered around experiences rather than physical objects. Whether it involves picking out the perfect (see: most symmetrical) tree or catching up with loved ones at holiday parties, there are so many opportunities to spread Christmas cheer. Recently, I suddenly lost my grandpa who seemed to find joy in the simplist of things. I have always valued people and relationships, but having experienced so much loss so quickly has caused me to hold on to my relationships a little tighter. Therefore, you will find me taking even more time to celebrate the following holiday traditions...

1. Watching Christmas Movies

Along with listening to Christmas music, this is a given! I could curl up on the sofa with a blanket, light a candle (see #5), and sip a cup of hot cocoa (or glass of wine) just about any time of the year, but it feels more special during the holidays. While I love a good classic (Miracle on 34th Street),  Elf and How the Grinch Stole Christmas are some of my personal childhood favorites.

2. Baking Cookies (And Other Holiday Confections)

I am convinced that my grandmother's nutmeg logs were worthy of an award. Although I wish I could share some of my family's favorite holiday cookie recipes, I am sworn to secrecy. Consider yourself on the nice list if you are lucky enough to receive a holiday tin full of these baked goods from me. While it is difficult to top a homemade treat, Williams Sonoma's Peppermint Bark and Fortnum & Mason's Merry-Go-Round Musical Biscuit Tin (I mean... it plays music!) are sure to get anyone in the holiday spirit.

3. Sending Holiday Cards

Call me old fashioned but I love receiving (and sending) cards in the mail. I particularly look forward to my uncle's annual Christmas letter. He spends hours carefully gathering his thoughts to produce what often feels like an entertaining (yet reflective) novel. I think I enjoy holiday cards so much because it is an easy way for someone to show how they make time for others. Every year, I like to gather up the cards that are delivered and put them on display. It is heartwarming to see everyone's smiling faces and kind words welcoming me when I am home.

4. Wrapping Presents

While I try to keep gifts minimal, I find joy in giving something meaningful to others. I am not a huge fan of knick knacks, but do believe items can be valuable if they serve a purpose. The month of December seems to fly by for me, making it inevitable to feel rushed. Taking time to wrap presents is a form of stress relief for me (even though some people may feel the opposite) because it causes me to take a break from the chaos and focus on something creative. A wrapping station helps me stay organized and allows me to be efficient. All you need is some cute wrapping paper (simple kraft paper works too!), ribbon/twine, gift tags, tape (try switching out your clear gift tape for a patterned washi tape), and a good pair of scissors. I like to add jingle bells or fresh pine needles for an extra touch. And if you want to make things even easier on yourself, you can opt for a patterned gift bag and coordinating tissue.

5. Burning Candles

It's no secret that candles are my kryptonite. In my opinion, candles are one of the most personal gifts because everyone has their own unique sense of smell, which can trigger memories and emotions. I recently took a candle-making class (10/10 would recommend) and have an even deeper appreciation for the art. If you are willing to make the investment, my friends and I agree that Thyme's Frasier Fir is THE best pine candle and worth every penny. Some of my personal favorites are Candlefish No. 4, Nest Holiday, and Capri Blue Fir & Firewood. When I want to switch things up, I like to burn Yankee Candle Christmas Cookie and am guilty of burning this one year round because it smells so delicious.

I encourage you to take time and make memories this season. What are some of your favorite holiday pastimes? 

And So It Begins...

For the past few years, I have contemplated the idea of starting a blog. However, I was worried that I might be perceived as another voice incessantly cluttering our precious feeds. In an overly critical society, I was afraid that people would think I was anything but authentic. Most importantly, I was concerned that I would not say the right words to interest others.

I am a perfectionist and tend to be overly self-critical. I have spent time getting to know (a.k.a. over-analyze) this aspect of my personality. As a graduate student, I learned that a design project has an infinite number of solutions. I would find myself lost in the process for hours curating the perfect design. It took me awhile, though, to understand that a project was not finished until I decided it was finished. A professor may have wanted me to tweak something here or add something there. However, if I felt confident in my work and met the client's goals, then I could accept it as my best work. And if the professor loved it, too, well then that made it even better. Admittedly, I occasionally struggle completely embracing this new outlook. However, I now have more time to enjoy and celebrate my accomplishments, rather than frantically agonize over what someone else may think.

I wish I could say the decision to finally begin blogging was purely intrinsic, but I have to give some credit to the minimalists (as well as family and friends) for motivating me. I frequently play their podcasts in the background while working, cooking, or running. One podcast in particular spoke to me. I learned that striving for perfection can actually lead to procrastination. Wanting to write the "perfect" post has prevented me from simply taking the first step. Life is not perfect (it does not have to be and that is totally okay) but if we wait for the “perfect” moment, then it may never happen.

Some of my favorite moments from 2017 have been spent losing track of time chatting with friends, family, and even strangers–exchanging stories, laughing, and (sometimes) crying. There is much to be learned by sharing a conversation. This year has been quite the adventure and I am ready to share it with you. As fall fades into winter and as we transition from pumpkins to pine trees (quite possibly my favorite time of the year), I could not think of a better time to start writing.

My intent for this blog is to serve as a creative outlet where I can document my travels, design inspiration, and life updates. Similar to my design projects, there are many topics that I could write about on this blog, but I am going to write for myself. And if you love it, too, well then that makes it even better.

Feel free to take a look around and thank you for joining me on this personal endeavor! XO