Currently // February 2017

Well, we blinked and it's already February. Here's what I'm currently up to:

ANTICIPATING // Girls In STEM is next week! I love this event because it combines my full-time job with my full-time passion.

READING // Just finished Missing, Presumed and am in the middle of The Lifegiving Home. Recently, I was pretty entertained by The Assistants (a light read). And I kicked off the new year with Make It Happen.

LISTENING TO // Gaga. I can't wait to see her perform tomorrow! Will she top Bruno and Bey?!

PLANNING // My garden! I've ordered seed catalogs and am deciding what to grow this summer.

LEARNING // To find peace in the tension between being a mama and a professional.

LOVING // Watching Declan grow! I can't believe he turns one next month. Cue tears.

WORKING ON // A gallery wall for our family room. It's time to put a little life on these walls!

WEARING // These boots that Santa brought. I'm in love.

DREAMING OF // Sunshine and somewhere warm. February is always a bit blah, don't you think?

WATCHING // The Crown. Anyone else watching?


What are you currently up to?

xoxo,
Alex

Currently 4.28.16

This past year has been an absolute whirlwind. I look back and wish I had blogged a bit more to really capture all the changes that we went through as a little family. Oh well, thank goodness for Instagram, right? 

But, I'm committed to keeping my little corner of the interwebs up and running, even if it means posting fewer and farther between. So, with that, here's what I'm currently up to:

READING // The Nightingale, The Widow, The Paris Architect. Up next: Big Magic and Surprised by Motherhood.

LISTENING TO // The soothing sounds of my breast pump...

EATING // Breakfast cookies! These are saving me when I wake up famished in the middle of the night. I'll post the recipe soon.

THANKFUL // For the opportunity to take maternity leave but...

PLANNING // My return to work. I have an amazing gig going and I can't wait to dive back into it.

LOVING // My little man and being a mama. 

WORKING ON // Our house. We have a couple projects left to finish up including the kitchen, our bedroom, and the upstairs bathroom. Then I'm officially calling it done. Because really, what kind of insane person remodels their house while pregnant and on maternity leave?!

NEEDING // My CLE credits since my law license is up for renewal this summer. 

DREAMING OF // Sleep. 

WATCHING // I still can't get enough of this epic lip sync battle. Melissa McCarthy is unreal. Plus, didn't we all fall in love with Sookie again when she thanked her mom at the MTV Movie Awards: "And to my mom, Sandy Lynn McCarthy, who taught me not to fear being the butt of the joke, taught me not to worry about being likeable and perfect, and to lovingly go for the kill." Yesssss.

Life is so different than a year ago, but I wouldn't change it one bit.

xoxo,

Alex

Cocoa Chat 12.7.15

Let's grab some cocoa today and chat about what's currently going on.

READING // After Youand The Christmas Chronicles. And getting excited about choosing books to read with my sister-in-law next year!

LISTENING TO // All the Christmas songs...obviously. Especially, when running errands with K. He loves it too, or so I like to believe.

THANKFUL // For four incredible with the Center for Girls' Leadership. It's been a true gift in my life to be able to share my passion and advocate for women and girls in my community. I spent some time last week celebrating with a few of our board members and toasting to the future!

MAKING // Merry. I just love decorating our home each year. It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

LEARNING // This past week, I finished my Professional Train-the-Trainer certificate at the U. I learned so much and have so many incredible plans to bring back to my work.

WORKING ON // Holiday cards! It's just so fun to spread a little cheer to our friends and family each year.

ENJOYING // Wrapping up another semester at UST! Winter break is just as sweet as a teacher as it is to students.

What have you been up to? 

xoxo,

Alex

Currently.

Oh, hello. I've swapped blogging for sleeping. When busy, something has got to give and for me it's this blog. I know it will always be here when I have a few spare minutes! So to catch up, here's what I'm currently up to:

READING // Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter 

ANTICIPATING // Sunshine and sandy beaches...

THINKING ABOUT // Doing with less. I'm attempting to purge 40 bags in 40 days and I'm seriously contemplating switching up my wardrobe to a capsule wardrobe. Anyone out there given this a try?

EATING // Leftovers from Spoon and Stable. K and I had a date night last night and the hottest restaurant in town. I'm definitely recreating their Paloma cocktail soon!

THANKFUL // For my job. It makes me think, stretches me outside my comfort zone, and allows my creativity to flourish. I love it.

WORKING ON // More like working out. Since joining ClassPass, I have finally hit my fitness stride. I love trying new classes, studios, and instructors. Some of my faves include Pure Barre, [SolidCore], Surge Cycle, and Modo Yoga! Sign up today and we can live the sweaty life together! (< - - affiliate link)

PLANNING // Our bathroom remodel! K has worked so hard and we are finally ready for tile. He did the hard work, now I'm helping planning out the pretties like paint, fixtures, and tile.

WATCHING // House of Cards...duh.

xoxo,

Alex

iPhone wallpaper via Fleur De Letters...isn't it perfect for the start of spring?!

Hello, November.

If there ever was an autumn for me to fall back, this one has been it. One friend described it as my time to return "back to center." And it definitely has.

The end of summer brought much needed career changes. I took a major leap of faith and quit my job in August. Best decision ever. And yet, it was pretty scary but totally necessary to save my soul. K was super supportive, as always. Luckily, I stumbled upon a fantastic opportunity and for the first time in my life, I love my job.

In August, I also began teaching a class on Nonprofit Organizations at my law school. While I have been presenting and conducting workshops for a long time, this is the first time I've developed an ongoing curriculum. Probably the biggest challenge of my life but I'm learning a ton every day. It's always better to challenge yourself than to be bored.

At the end of September, K and I celebrated our first anniversary. Marriage is a funny thing. It's full of highs and lows and laughs and apologies and snuggles and dreams. For us, relationship-building is a priority and our weekly date nights and Saturdates are the highlight of my week.

Our schedules finally freed us up to tackle some big home projects this fall. I need to post an update but you can follow our fixer-upper adventures on instagram at #younghomemakeover. We're almost done with our outdoor prep work and this fall/winter we'll be starting to transform the ugly basement for once and for all!

Anyway, lots happening over here. Here's more of what I'm currently up to:

READING // Off the Sidelines: Raise Your Voice, Change the World, Kristen Gillibrand's new book, Daring Greatly, A Whole New Engineer (for work), and a Gabriel Allon novel. 

LISTENING TO // Shake It Off...obviously.

ANTICIPATING // The HOLIDAYS!! I simply can't wait for Friendsgiving, Christmas, New Year's...Absolutely the best time of the year and it's happening now!

THINKING ABOUT // Wanderlust. We have a couple upcoming trips planned and I am pumped to be traveling again.

EATING // Breakfast cookies. I'm hooked. I'll post a recipe soon!

WATCHING // Brooklyn Nine Nine, The League, How to Get Away With Murder, Chicago Fire & PD, football, and hockey...

PLANNING // Our holiday cards...don't judge. I'm pretty excited about them this year!

WEARING // Lou & Grey Ponte Leggings. I mean, I have been living in these on the weekends this fall. I just love them.

LEARNING // Calligraphy! I took a class and now I'm literally obsessed. Need some inspiration? Check out my Lettering pinterest board. 

LOVING // K. Yeah, I know, totes cheesy. But he's been my rock the last couple months. 

WORKING ON // Fixin' up our house! Our basement remodel starts this week. I've been dreaming of this day forever. Well, for the last five years at least.

THANKFUL // For so much. But especially this time of the year.

xoxo,

Alex