Walking With Nora

 A huge thank you to everyone for all the lovely texts, cards, emails, tweets, phone calls and flowers yesterday! Each and every one of you made my birthday an incredibly special day and I thank you for that! I will be answering the questions I received from yesterday’s post early next week, so stay tuned. Back to regularly scheduled programming, and again, THANK YOU!!!!

I think I need to work on finding more obsessions because lately the monthly lists have been a little dull. (Also, how is it possible that October starts tomorrow!?)

The rundown for this past month:

* Cleaning Sprees. I know, so totally Donna Reed of me, but so true. Lately nothing gives me a greater sense of accomplishment on a Sunday afternoon than a thorough room once over: dusting, decluttering, picking up, putting away, re-organizing. Everything feels a lot lighter for a few days after I clean.

* Brownies. I found a great recipe for fabulous, made-from-scratch chewy brownies. They don’t make much (an 8×8 pan) but they are so delicious and have that great homemade taste. I’ll dig out the recipe and share it with anyone who wants it. They don’t take long to whip up either so I’ve been making them every other week.

* Accessorizing. I am fortunate to have a fair amount of jewelry and lately I’ve done a piss-poor job of accessorizing my outfits. That all changed earlier this month. I’m actually putting thought into my rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets. Now that fall is settling in I can add scarves to that list too.

* Running Outside. My Physical Therapist wanted me to ease into outdoor runs, which I did. Since it’s been going well I’m running outside twice a week, soaking up the fall air, kicking the leaves up as I run, taking in the sunset and nodding to other runners and bikers as they go past. I don’t love the hills that surround my suburb but they are making me stronger with each run. Feels so good to have that part of me back.

* Playing with Fashion. I’m learning to be a bit more “me” in the fashion area of my life and it feels damn good. I’m playing with my look a little bit, mixing and matching “genres” of clothes if you will, and the result has been not only fun, but I feel more confident and comfortable.

* My friends. Over the past few weeks in an effort to get acclimated to what my life will be like post-grad school, I’ve started going out more, making plans, trying new things with different groups of people. It has reminded me I have some great friends both near and far (especially far as of late!) and gives me lots of hope for all the things yet to come.

Anything that has really caught your fancy in the last monght? Any suggestions for me to check out in the next month?

See those pictures above? Yup, that’s Toddler Nora. Born 27 years ago in New Jersey (oh, yeah, that’s right, I’m a Jersey Girl) in the middle of the night during a thunderstorm which is likely the reason I love rain so darn much.

So today I’m 27 though I’m tempted to call it 26 Part Two, not for any particular reason other than I prefer even numbers.

I don’t have any fabulous words of wisdom to share or fancy reflections from the past year. Instead I’m looking forward with no grand designs or expectations other than to go with the flow, continue to be positive and enjoy whatever new adventures come my way.

And with that, more random photos from various time periods in my life and a birthday request to delurk (if applicable) and ask me any question you want me to answer about anything (school, work, living at home, my dog, past boyfriends, whatever!) in upcoming posts.

Somtimes when I’m feeling lonely, I look up at the sky and remember that we are all in this together, all under the same moon, the same stars. That I am not alone.

Somtimes I wish I still lived in Orlando so I could go to Disney anytime I wanted. I have so many amazing memories from my time in the Disney parks both as a kid, teenager and young adult and some days I crave reliving those moments.

Sometimes I wish I was the couple in photos like this (and then I remember how tough dating is lately):

Sometimes I would rather eat ice cream for dinner.

Sometimes I wish I had enough money to start my own bookstore (and cupcakery).

 Sometimes I forget how content with my life I really am.

What are your “Sometimes…” thoughts today?

(Photos via weheart it. Starry Skies, Disney, Couple,  Ice Cream,  Bookstore,  Content)

It’s Monday.

Which means that my brain is still on weekend time, struggling to keep up with the corporate world, perhaps even wishing it were still in bed under warm blankets (fall has arrived here in STL). Something that looks a lot like this:

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This also means that this morning you get some Nora Randomness.

* I had to pay a late fine of $3.15 at the library about a week ago. Three books were only five days overdue. I understand that they were late and it was my fault, but $3.15? It seemed a little steep for an overdue charge.

* No one at my office noticed my new glasses. This seems odd to me as I wear my glasses all the time at the office since they are readers/computer glasses. I guess everyone is really wrapped up in what they are doing on a daily basis which is fine, but I guess I thought they were a huge departure from my old ones.

* Every time I go to visit my brother, I inevitably have a great time. I also inevitably realize that I’m not 21 years old anymore and do not have a problem going to bed before midnight. I learned a lot this weekend too; suffice to say college and the college culture has changed drastically.

* I have one of the best brothers and family anyone could ask for. Hands down.

* I am really proud of my Tigers so far; a huge win yesterday ought to give them the confidence to get through our conference games later in the season.

* Getting one’s nose pierced doesn’t hurt nearly as much as you’d think. It’s also relatively easy to get used to. Here’s a picture for those who are curious:

* The closer I am to being done with school the more excited I get for all my free time. I literally am counting down the days. 14 days.

* Shopping at boutique stores can lead to finding some amazing presents for friends. Bonus for supporting local economies and entreprenuers.

* Free (early) birthday peppermint chip ice cream is the best. Also, I have mixed feelings about my birthday being in two days.

* My 10k is only three Sundays away and I’m getting a little nervous about my ability to run 6.2 miles all at once; I’ve been doing pretty well in my training runs but I’m nervous anyway!

* I purged my book collection yesterday; I decided to part with about 10 books that I know I won’t read again and/or recommend to friends, so why bother keeping them on my shelf? My shelves are exploding with books as it is, so freeing up some space was a great feeling.

Any Monday randomness that you’d like to share?

1. Taking a long lunch with my dad on Monday. It’s rare that we both have free lunch hours so we took about 90 minutes to chat work, to discuss my after grad school plans, and my upcoming birthday.

2. An amazing run on Tuesday night in between Glee and Parenthood. No idea if it was because I didn’t want to miss a moment of Parenthood or what, but I had the best time. Running under the glow of a nearly full moon is also quite calming; I felt like the road was all mine.

3. Staring a “Creative Journaling,” class at my library. We only meet once a month but the teacher is incredibly enthusiastic: she brought treats, “bling” to decorate our journals with, and has guest speakers lined up. The class consists of a few people my gram’s age, a young kid who is maybe 12, and a few mother/daughter combos like Darling and me. I also found out this lady runs a knitting group that I might try as well; they teach people who don’t know how to knit too!

4. I’m going to visit my brother this weekend. He can’t make it home for my birthday so he invited me to my college town for a weekend of movies, fun, tailgating, and whatever other trouble we get into.

5. Having a good sales week at work; I’m not 100% in the sales department but I dabble and I did pretty well this week. It’s kind of fun/exciting.

6. Only 3 weeks of school left, and of those three, I’ll only be busy with school work for two of them.

7. Figuring out/firming up my New Year’s Eve plans… in California!

What small things made you happy this week? Anything in particular you are looking forward to this weekend?

“I talked to my father the other day,” Nick said. Just like always, his driver’s side window was down, the A/C blasted into the tiny cab of his truck. Because of this his left arm was constantly hanging out the window leaving him with a permanent farmer’s tan. 

“Oh, about what?” I said absentmindedly, thinking it had something to do with the status of the MU Tigers or some other sports-related thing, as that is all they ever bonded over.  The country road whizzed by as they barreled down the highway to a farm party or some such activity, a country music station fizzled as the antennae searched for a signal.

” A jeweler. He gave me the name of the family jeweler so that when I’m ready, I can call and get you a ring.” He said it just like that. No fanfare. No trying to be secretive about. To Nick’s credit, he did have a sparkle in his eyes and a smile played on his lips as he glanced toward’s the passenger seat, waiting for my reaction.

” Ah. Well. That’s… exciting.” That was not the response I wanted to come out of my mouth. Immediately my stomach twisted up into knots, and I felt like I couldn’t breathe. Had he really just said “you” and “ring” in the same sentence? Meaning engagement. I was only 21, and even at that a young 21. Had you asked me then, I would have told you I’d be married by 24, not 21.

In an instant my life flashed before my eyes. I’d be forced to accept a job with the State Government, to be a drone, day in and day out. The only benefit to that, I thought, was the extreme amount of holidays and vacation days I would be forced to take. And maybe the fact that there wineries and beautiful countryside near by. Within a few years we’d buy a house in the countryside, adopt a few more dogs and before I knew it I’d be barefoot and pregnant.

It would have been a life of quiet. Of comfort.  Of minimal passion and little romance. Of little ambition for as great as Nick was, he made it clear that he never wanted to leave this town. I was afraid the promise of love and marriage wouldn’t be enough to keep me in the town where he grew up, which was 30 minutes away from the State Capitol.

It was a life that I was unsure I wanted. After 18 months of dating I felt terrible thinking that but I just couldn’t envision myself living in a smaller town for the rest of my life. We made it through my undergraduate graduation, somehow, and then through Christmas. New Year’s came and went, which we spent apart; a telltale sign. We made the decisions to go our separate ways; each of us in search of individual adventures.

Nick found his: finishing college, switching jobs, getting married and adopting his wife’s child.

And as for me, well, I’ve had adventures in dating, in love, in jobs, in trips, with friends and family. I know that one day I’ll find a man who I’m meant to have lifelong adventures with and when he mentions the idea of THE ring? I won’t want to throw up in my mouth.

I’m glad that my 21 year-old self was wrong about me getting married at 24.

Something about cooler temps, blustery evenings, leaves blowing across the sidewalk… it all makes me nostalgic.

The sounds of the marching band drift through the air on Thursday and Friday nights as they play at halftime and when touchdowns are scored.
Was it really 12 years ago that I was part of that band? That I was marching on the field, playing my flute, enjoying my high school days? We traveled via bus, won competitions, had end of the season parties at my parents house. I look at my flute now and it seems so foreign to me. I wonder if I can get out any notes…

There are signs posted for the big Homecoming game and dance, girls are all abuzz at the mall looking for the perfect dress.
Is it possible that I haven’t been to a formal dance since 2001? The thrill of  your crush asking you to the dance, finding the dress, the big reveal when your date picks you up, getting your hair and make-up done, looking forward to the after party. I recently stumbled upon an album with high school photos. We really did make such a big deal out of Homecoming, didn’t we!?

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The stores are filling up with Halloween costumes and candy, the children in the neighborhood are chatting about what superhero/princess/concept they will be in less than two months.
It seems like ages ago that I was dressed up as a ballet dancer or going to Halloween scavenger hunt parties with friends. I miss the giggling as we ran down the streets, fighting the sleep that was inevitable because we absolutely had to fill up our pillow case full of candy.

The Mizzou Mascot is all over the place this time of year with many people in STL traveling to Mizzou for football games. The roar of the crowd. The excitement of tailgating. People flooding the streets after the game in celebration (or perhaps defeat).
How can it be that it has been six years since I graduated from undergrad? From living with some of my best friends, enjoying the full-time student days, figuring out where I wanted to go in this world? Thank goondess I am able to go back every once in awhile.

No matter how nostalgic I am, I always look forward to the new memories I’ll be making this fall and so far it looks like there will be a lot of them: fall farm party, graduate school graduation, weddings, football games and roadtrips just to name a few.

What are you nostalgic about this time of year?

1. What’s the one thing you always do when you’re stressed?
Eat chocolate. Go running. (So counterproductive, eh?) Sometimes I totally shut down and/or get super grumpy.

2. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever done for a friend?
Well not weird, but maybe a little awkward? My best friend’s wedding was in St. Thomas and after the ceremony she was complaining that it felt like something was poking her rear-end. So what did I do? I dove under her skirt, while she bent over a couch in search of whatever was poking her.  Turns out there was a seamstress needle/pin in her dress that was about two inches long. We were just glad she didn’t sit on it. We also laughed (and still do!) about that little scene.

3. What cleaning supply could you not live without?
Ah! There is this new prodcut called “What-ever” that I bought at Whole Foods. It’s locally made. Organic. Reasonably priced. Works on every surface imaginable. I love it.

4. How long do you plan on living where you currently reside?
Until early 2011 at which point I will be moving into a condo/townhome (possibly one that I own, no less!)

5. Do you usually vote straight party, a mixture, or not at all?
I vote every election, even the small ones on the issues/seats that are open. Usually straight party but I’ve been known to mix it up here or there.

6. What’s something that you love to do, but seem to never make time for?
Scrapbooking/photo collaging. The last time I worked on my scrapbook I think the year was 2008? Maybe 2009. I have a stack of photos that need to be put in albums and tons of ideas just begging to be worked on. And sometimes when I’m crazy busy or crazy sad, hang out with friends.

7. What’s your favorite store to buy things for other people?
Tough one. We have a great place that is Fair Trade called Ploughshares and I love it. They have everything imaginable: tablecloths, jewelry, clothes, trinkets, wedding gifts, cards. I also love Target as you can almost always find something for your friends/family there.

8. What’s the weather like around you today?
Hot. Clear. I’d rather be a pool at the moment.

9. What’s the worst book you’ve ever bought and read?
Girls in Trucks. Hands down. I was so excited for it and it was super disappointing.

10. What’s the closest thing to you that is yellow?
mini post-it notes!

What was the worst book that you’ve ever read? I want to be sure to avoid any potential duds in the coming months.

** Also: I’m back to vlogging again, every Wednesday. Tomorrow’s theme is Question Wednesday so any questions you want me to answer in my vlog, leave below & I’ll be sure to do so!**

Lastly, just because this video is adorable with all sorts of cute dogs (not to mention a good song), I thought I’d share it and maybe brighten your day a bit!

This past weekend was one of those great ones.

On Friday I headed over to Jen’s house to embark on our girls’ night out  for ten which she won from Dove. We received complimentary car service (aka a huge limo) and then Jen was given money to spoil us for the evening! I think we spent it pretty well: cupcakes from The Cup (I got the Tuxedo and Buttercream which I noshed on over the weekend), dinner at a fabulous local tapas restaurant, Mosaic where I fell in love with infused cheddar cheese, mini rib burgers and potatoe croquettes, and hours of girl talk, laughing, jokes and pictures. As if all that wasn’t great enough, we all received three lovely smelling deodorants courtesy of Dove of course, after the night was over. It was great to meet more of Jen’s friends (I knew about half the group already from various past parties) and enjoy a truly luxurious night on the town. (Bonus: getting to see Jen’s son, now two months old, and take a picture with him and all of the girls in front of the limo. Cutest thing ever.)  Below: Liz, me, Jen, hanging out in the limo.

For whatever reason on Saturday morning I woke up with a start at 7:30am and couldn’t fall back asleep so I decide to go into uber productive mode: wrote a paper, took the dogs around the block, and was ready to go for the day all before 9:30am. I picked out my new glasses, did a little gratuitous shopping at H&M and Express, and then jaunted over to my Gram’s with two Starbucks Double Chocolaty Chip Drinks for two hours of girl time. We talked boys, computers, school, memories, goals. Quite possibly the best two hours I’ve spent with my Gram in awhile. The fatigue started setting in around this time so I headed home for some quality time with my Netflix movies, the couch, the dogs and my books. I watched Griffin & Phoenix which is a heartbreakingly beautiful movie; I really did love it. However, I do not recommend watching it unless you want to cry. Like, a lot. Then, and I can’t believe I’m admitting this on my blog, I watched Mary Poppins to cheer myself up. Took the dogs on some walks, read a ton, and then enjoyed the crazy thunderstorms that rolled into town.

For those who are interested, a pic of my new glasses (they are dark brown with caramel on the outer rims). I’m pretty much in love with them:

And then on Sunday? Lots of naps with the dogs at my feet, more reading, peppered with school work of course, news that a good friend is moving out of St. Louis which prompted the quintessential “what am I doing with MY life thought process?”, baked some oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and went for a run. Throw in a present from my parents (a really awesome scarf), a surprise phone call from my brother and it was the perfect lazy Sunday.

This past weekend was a perfect blend of fun, friends, and time to myself. With the next six weeks being a little crazy with trips to see family and friends, finals, and weddings it was just what I needed!

How was your weekend? What’s your ideal weekend look like?

Since I revived this series last week and several people said they are glad I did so, I’ll be doing this on Fridays almost every week.

(Also, today is love the lovely Becky’s birthday. Leave her some birthday love today!)

* Chatting with my good friend Lisa. Whether it’s BBM or emails, it’s so great to have a friend who gets me. I may have been tempted to pack up and move to Minneapolis when she told me last night that she wished we were roommates or at least lived closer to each other. (Edite to add: So I talk to numerous fabulous ladies every day and they make my life infinitely better. Seriously. Habbala. Ashley. Mandy. Just to name a few. You know who you are. If we chat and you make me smile, you’re on this list.)

* I gave Jack a new toy on Tuesday night which meant two hours of playing fetch until he settled in for the night with the toy tucked under his chin. I suppose he was afraid that my parents 17 year old beagle might try to steal it from him.

* Receiving some awesome comments from my professor on  my most recent case study. Sometimes I sell myself short, I think, when it comes to all that I’ve learned in the last few years but nailing a paper with positive comments from an otherwise snarky professor? I’ll take it.

* Parenthood started this week. Enough said.

* A microderm abrasion facial. I’ve been getting facials for almost a year now and I’m in love with them. This past week my technician gave me a special deal on microderm and seriously my skin has never looked so good. The entire process was relaxing, the collagen mask at the end smelled divine and I’ve been “glowing,” all week.

* 10k training is going well and I’m halfway thru the program so this makes me happy. The knees are holding up ok, my endurance has improved and I love being in the gym six days a week again.

* Planning mini-trips to see friends and taking the entire Thanksgiving week off from work. I can’t wait.

Where did you find grace this past week?