Need Motivation? Try Wine and Country View.

This moving business is messy.  Its quite disheartening to wake up to scads of crap scattered across your living room.  I have piles of things to donate, stacks of boxes, and items that I swear I have never before seen in my life.

So naturally, instead of organizing, cleaning, and packing, I drank coffee in my pajamas and watched Harry Potter until noon.

Splinter also maximized the morning by laying around accordingly, but occasionally I would catch him glaring at me and I swear he was wondering why I had yet to get off the couch and do something productive. 

So naturally I decided that something must be done so I joined my friends at the winery for some wine and cheese and girl time.  The weather was perfectly hot and Liz asked more than once, "This is the life, isn't it?"  

I think that Alice and I both agree with Liz that, yes, this is the life.  Friends and wine and country views definitely make for the sweeter morsels of life that are wedged and packed between things like work and packing and getting the oil changed in your car.  I think that today the winery was the better choice.  I can pack tomorrow.

Alice, Liz, Me

I'll definitely miss the flat fields of Indiana.  How beautiful is this scenery?

Sometimes the simple things are the best things.

A Little Organization: Moving Advice.

So I think that it is safe to say that some of us are much more organized than others.  My junk drawer us usually way beyond junky, my clothes closet looks like an explosion, and the cabinet where I keep my pots and pans speaks for itself.

When I found out that i was going to be moving (again) I knew that I was in trouble and could use a little bit of advice in the moving department.  I was given several helpful tips from friends that I should share in case anyone should find themselves as disorganized as me and clueless as to where I should start.

Tip # 1 from Lauren: Label! Label! Label!

Tip # 2 from Aubrey: Don't label too many boxes Miscellaneous...it gets way too confusing/frustrating 

when you unpack. Def take your time & label everything. Sometimes my OCD comes out and I tape an 

inventory list of the contents of the box on the top :)

Tip # 3 from Bobbi: Atlas van lines

Tip # 4 from Noteka:  packing party.... Organize, list and label... I'll bring the sharpies... 

Tip # 5 from Elizabeth: My biggest word of advice, pack by room, label boxes on all sides with the 

major things in them (not just what room it is), and keep a few boxes reserved for the very important/use 

everyday stuff and put it on last. Start early because if you don't, you will just start throwing stuff in 

boxes. Get rid of lots of stuff! Its so great to shed stuff! Enjoy the process! Take pictures of how your 

place is now.

Tip # 6 from Stephanie: I also got a tape gun! And a pack of big fat sharpies for labeling the boxes. 

Nonessentials first, one room at a time, and lots of trips to drop junk off at Goodwill!

Stephanie also included this fabulous link from Mover's Edge with her advice and it has really been helpful! 

And P.S., its true... this tape gun thing is pretty amazing!

Thanks to everyone for their wonderful advice!

Summer Goal: Be intentional.

Several different blogs that I follow are all sharing a common theme these days.  Most are focusing on Summer goals and "to do" lists.  I've been thinking about about what I would put on my own Summer list and I just keep coming back to one goal in particular.

Be Intentional.

In general, this is a concept that I have been working on improving in my own life since the start of the year, but it seems especially important knowing that in just a short month I will be leaving behind my current home for a new one.  I'll be leaving the familiar for new friends, a new house, and completely new surroundings.  Being intentional seems like the most important goal right now.  Enjoying every second of every opportunity before moving forward into the next chapter of my life.

Until late last year, this concept was completely foreign to me.  I had never given a second thought to what it would mean to be intentional in my actions, my thoughts, or my attitude.  It hadn't even occurred to me that maybe I was letting valuable moments in life pass me by simply because I wasn't giving them a second thought.  Moments that initially maybe seemed mundane.  The Farmer's Market seemed like any other chore.  In and out.  Pick up some fresh food and leave.  But its so much more than that!  The smells, the people, the sun and heat on a dewy Summer morning... those are all things that make life beautiful and enjoyable and grand.

I didn't come to this realization on my own.  It's been through thinking, exploring, and reading blogs and books such as Enjoying the Small Things and The Happiness Project and realizing that there is so much more than just getting up, going to work, coming home, cooking dinner, and going to bed before starting over the next day.  And most importantly, understanding that life is what we make it.

This sign hangs in my office at work.

And so far this month I think I have been doing a pretty good job of working on my goal.  I have spent time with friends, new and old.  Ordering my favorite menu items at restaurants, sitting on the patio instead of inside, and remembering to snap extra pictures.

I've sipped champagne.  Infused with elder flower.  In a fancy restaurant.  With my fancy friend Liz.

Participated in some spontaneous dart playing where we made up our own rules.

Apparently if you stick your head out during picture taking it makes you look thinner??  Or maybe kinda silly in
this case.  :)

 I partook in some random street zip tie art while antiquing, bought a funky new chandelier, and ate spicy avocado sandwiches with Lauren who I wish I would have met six years ago, not six months ago. 

I've had ice-cream.  Twice.  No, make that three times.  :)  Each time with sprinkles.

And I made the trip to see my Little Sister from Big Brothers/Big Sisters graduate high school.  This was one proud big sis for sure!

Add in a stop at an old college favorite and you have one happy girl thus far in the month of June.  

I'm paying attention to the big things, the little things, and all the things in between this month.  Which right now translates into watching Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I  with a cup of hot tea in my cat mug (the cat mug makes it taste better) so I gotta go!

Sometimes the simple things are the best things.

The Beginning of Our New Adventure.

Friday was a sad, yet exciting, day in the Whitted household.  It marks the real beginning to our new adventure.  Caleb packed up his car and drove away to Chattanooga early in the morning.  There were hugs and tears and I didn't want him to go.  I reminded him 17 times to wear his seat belt and to pack the latest book he is reading.  I asked him to be careful and not drive too fast and if he was going to stop for breakfast because I didn't want him to be hungry on the drive.  Sheesh!  This must be love.  

I'm going to miss him for sure.  I keep reminding myself that it could be much worse.  We will only be parted for a few weeks and I know there are women out there who say goodbye to their husbands for months upon months when they send them off to war or boot camp or they have to travel constantly for work.  Yes, I am very grateful that this will be very short term.

I've been planning ways to spend my month of faux bachelorette-hood (beside packing!).  Several bloggers that I follow have been creating Summer goals, and I have been thinking about what I would add to my own list.  Stay tuned for the finished product!  

Do you have any fun June goals/plans?

Moving Preparations.

We've been starting to prepare for our move to Tennessee!

Last Thursday we made the long drive from Muncie to Chattanooga.  We picked up my sister-in-law, Micah, on the way and THANK GOODNESS that we did!  Caleb was completely exhausted from working a golf outing earlier that day and he slept in the backseat for most of the trip.  Micah and I stayed awake by chatting and blaring a mixed CD of Disney tunes.  In our state of delirium we attempted to memorize the words to the Street Rat song from Aladdin.  Ugh.

We met up with our realtor to look at houses.  Its all so exciting and I am so ready to purchase a home that I can make my own.  I have been scouring Pottery Barn, Ikea, and Pinterest for weeks looking at home decor ideas.  We ended up making an offer on house and are just waiting for the inspection next week.  If all goes well we will be on our way to home ownership!  Caleb says if I give too many details about the home we are hoping to buy I might jinx us, so my lips are sealed for now! 

We spent some time exploring the campus of University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where Caleb will be working and checked out some of the local restaurants.  We even fit in a baseball game!  It was an exhausting day, but well worth the trip.

All the excitement even energized me enough to start a little bit of packing.  I am determined not to wait until the last minute.  There is nothing worse!

Thanks to everyone who gave me moving advice!  It was all helpful and I'm sure that it will make my moving experience much more smooth.

Farewell Cookout with a Collection of Friends.

What a weekend we had!  It was a whirlwind of activity, but absolutely amazing.  Thursday night Caleb, his sister Micah, and I drove to Chattanooga to do some house hunting (details to come!!), Saturday we returned to Muncie for a cookout, and Sunday we drove to Caleb's parent's house for another cookout before spending time with his parent, my mom, and her fiance on Monday!  Phew!

We find ourselves trying to fit in everything that we possibly can because there are so many people that we are going to miss and be unable to see as often once we move to Tennessee.  We have a wonderful group of friends in Muncie that I will be sad to leave behind... not to mention the fact that we will be further away from family and friends that we have had for years.  

Saturday, our friends Art and Alice threw us a going away cookout.  They definitely know how to have a good time and it was just what we needed after our quick trip to Chattanooga to look at houses.

Art grilled out and Alice had some amazing potato salad and side dishes to complete our meal.

Their condo sits on a lake where Art and Liz fished.  The scenery was beautiful and relaxing.

This is Liz.  Such a funny girl!  Love her.

Check out my new hat!  A going away present from Art and Alice.  Perfect for moving to the South!!!  My only regret is that I didn't get a photo of the whole group... Thanks to everyone who came and made it a special night.  We will certainly miss you all (and can't wait for visitors...)!!!

Something that I am beginning to learn is that there are amazing people everywhere.  Sometimes I think that moving often stinks, but I am beginning to accumulate a whole collection of friends from all over.  Friends that compost, friends that have been on great adventures like living in NYC, friends who love the same shows as me and understand my love of blogs and fancy things, friends that love travel who are caring and help kids.  I have friends who love wine like me, who went to college with me, who are 22 and 66.  I have friends that I have absolutely nothing in common with, but love more than anything.  Its a nice thought to know that you all are out there and that saying goodbye isn't the end of a friendship, but that you are all part of my journey.

Quick and Easy Recipe: Glazed Angel Food Cake.

I had my friend Lauren over for dessert, wine, and the finale of Revenge last night.  Does anyone else watch that show?  LOVE IT!  I needed something quick and easy to make for dessert so I decided to try a recipe that I saw on Pinterest.  You can find the recipe here.

Although it only required a few ingredients, I have to say that it was a bit pricey due to the purchase of the Triple Sec which is not something I typically keep on hand.

I liked that it used a store bought angel food cake which was definitely a time-saver and poking the holes and adding the orange liqueur/orange juice mix was a nice touch!  Next time I'm going to add double the amount because I think it would have made it even better.

My only real critique, aside from the cost, was the thickness of the chocolate ganache.  Hindsight is 20/20 and next time I will thin it down a little more with the cream.  

All in all, the recipe was quick, easy, and delicious.  Now that I have the orange liqueur I will definitely make this again.  Caleb loved the ganache and was eating it out of the pan!

Sometimes the simple things are the best things.