Rainy Monday

If you're going to get a Monday to sleep in, this is definitely the one to have. I forgot to set my alarm, knowing that my morning was up in the air. (Maybe it was a deliberate decision from my subconscious). After being up hours throughout the night with amazing storms, I found my eyemask and a single earplug and finally fell back into a restless sleep.

I slowly woke up, listening to the rain fall against the window and the car tires pushing the water from the street. Quiet all around. I did grab my phone and check my email - welcome to my life - but then sank back into my pillow and enjoyed the moment. I just had to see if I'd received anything about this morning.

I was supposed to speak at a local high school as a woman entrepreneur. Can you believe it? Me? I'm a real professional adult! I mean, I will be 31 in a matter of days. Ugh - that will not be mentioned again.

But the confirmation email never came, so I'll speak another day and today began relaxing in bed. Boo came in and made sure I was awake (being it was almost 9am) and I asked if he'd made coffee. He replied, "Not yet, it makes noise."

So sweet! We recently upgraded to a coffee grinder addition to our coffee routine and he didn't want to wake me up by grinding the beans. Love. This. Man.

Happy, peaceful and rainy Monday. I'm (eventually) off to shower into my comfiest Uggs, jeans and work sweatshirt attire. Then I'll put my favorite pot roast in the crock pot before heading to market to buy new accessories for the store, show up just after lunch and finish out the day. I sooo needed this after a very long, happy, exhausting and drink-heavy weekend.

Open Letter to Dallas

I apologize for the rain. It is my fault and I am sorry you have to deal with my issues on your way to work and throughout your now dreary day. I am so deep in 96 hours of "truly dark and twisty/drowning in my own life" that it appears I managed to force all of my misery outward into the universe. It met back up in the sky and is now pouring down over the city. For that, I am very sorry.

That is all.

Sleet Storm

Apparently life wasn't going to slow down any time soon, so God gave me a snow storm. It's my taking control of the situation instead of letting it whip me up inside and carry me along for the ride. That's the definition of my life lately. Whipped along. Or maybe whirred along. Whipped sounds almost pleasant, like dessert.

I began greeting the sleet storm with anxiety. How am I going to pay rent if I start off the month without sales? What if someone wants to buy Superbowl gear? What if I miss my UPS shipment? I was unnerved before even showering Tuesday, ultimately spending the day at home. I stressed my way through what should have been a relaxing coffee and breakfast at a local restaurant. I came home, crawled back in bed and read my new favorite book. Miracle author.

I have now spent two days relaxing and being a normal person again. I did all the laundry, cleaned, cooked, marinated, did my nails, napped, slept a full night, cuddled with the dog, watched tv and even worked! I guess I didn't relax so much, but having the time to do all of that is relaxing to me.

I am so incredibly grateful for this storm.

Chillin'

OMG, a spicy candle and the door propped open to the 70-degree morning outside, wind blowing and all the good songs on the Ipod. Does it get any better?

Part of me wants to stress about cleaning the store, getting the RA shipment out, making a PO for the new order I just placed, etc. But why stress about that? Just get it done! And in the meantime, enjoy the stunning moment from this morning.

That and enjoying positive press for the store? Is there any reason not to be smiling all day?

Magic Morning

I'm sitting at the store, cleaned and merchandised, on this quiet Wednesday morning. The door is propped open with a cool drizzle falling outside. I couldn't be happier right now. This constant oppressive heat has become depressing. I can't open the blinds in the bedroom (for months now) because just the intensity of the sun made the heat too much for the A/C to keep up with. It was a wonderful site to see the Walgreens parking lot this morning. Ha!

I lay in bed this morning, reading my most fabulous study Bible, listening to the drizzle outside the window. It was exactly what I needed to begin a long day the right way. Now the playlist is pumping the best of my favorites and for now, the air is nice enough to enjoy - rain and all.

I'm the lucky one

I could totally get used to this weather. Window open, curtains blowing, sun shining. Hurricane force winds could stand to disappear, but otherwise it's practically perfect and has been for days now.

Thursday was our Ft. Worth debut and we opened to good numbers. Not great, but definitely good. The caravan arrived, set up and didn't return until midnight. Jeff was an amazing musical addition, jamming out and taking requests. I think he garnered quite the following. And Kat networked like a professional. Hot Jen and I peddled our hearts out. It's all marketing, right?

Friday was a fantastic market with my 4 page spreadsheet, linking each company to the master. I cannot explain how fun it is to place real orders. And oh my goodness the cutest product. I cannot believe how lucky I am to work in clothing every day. It's just....blessed.

Saturday was even better. Misty and I took to the trail and walked/jogged 3 miles. I was impressed. She's 11! And it was my longest venture since being diagnosed and makes me feel like a real person again. I managed a tank tan spending a couple hours out and about walking through West Village and up and down the trail and just being! Breakfast on the roofdeck at Breadwinners. It just makes me smile to relive it.

And seriously, as if anyone deserves four great days in a row, today's a perfect Sunday. Woke up for Palm Sunday services and yet again reinforced how very very much I heart my church. It's a perfect marriage of the conservative church I grew up in and the contemporary I loved so much in the ATL. The apartment is clean, candles lit, IPod playing, March Madness on TV and curtains blowing in the wind from the open window, sunshine outside, dog sleeping at my feet inside. Group date dinner and a movie tonight.

I am blessed.

3 Cheers for Sunshine

Geared up for a beautiful day (the last for a while) armed with my Sam Edleman boots and my Beth Bowley sweater. Off to Southlake for a quick meeting and breakfast a la Starbucks. Then out to Grapevine for vintage/used furniture shopping for display tables for the store. Look out Dallas - it looks like I'm your newest small business owner...

SMILES!

Freezing Bathroom Break

It is frigid, no, downright arctic outside right now. 17-degrees, and then a windchill. I expected it and felt it even a rite of passage of sorts to navigate my way in the frozen tundra of NYC. Yes, dear friends left back in the boring warmth of the south, I made it to the subway this morning. I wear sunglasses and my IPOD indoors and out. I layer hats, gloves, scarves, legwarmers and boots just to hike 2 miles to work when the MTA goes on strike. I am a warrior of the cold. I am a NYer. But this is Dallas. Dear Lord, it's cold. I had to put on snuggly socks, winter boots (my lovely $30 faux Uggs), my big girl puffer coat that covers below my knees, gloves and a scarf wrapped around my FACE! All this to take the dog out this morning.

I waited for her Princess butt to freeze, to run back towards the building, anxious to get her cold paws back on warm ground. But no. She stood and looked around, letting the biting below-freezing wind nip her face. She wagged her tail at cars that drove by with their heaters and seat warmers toasting passengers. She eventually got dragged by the leash back to the building. It's great that her body is made of fur, but mine is not and this thinned Southern blood needed coffee and a hot shower.