The Friday Five

I thought it was time to shake things up on m' blog. While I'm a big fan of the weekly Love List, I think it's appropriate to show gratitude during the month of November. Who's with me? I already share enough posts filled with fabulosity, most of which can be slightly materialistic, I'm aware! And while there's nothing wrong with that — it doesn't define me — I'd rather use the next few Fridays as an opportunity to share five things that make me grateful each week. 

When you're aware of your blessings and you're appreciative, it has a direct impact on your overall happiness. As you glance at The Friday Five, you may notice some of these points of gratitude seem rather silly or irrelevant, but they're instances that made me happy. It's important to take note of the little moments that make you grin from ear to ear. 

HERE'S WHAT MADE ME FEEL GRATEFUL THIS WEEK...

ONE: I jumped back on the yoga mat this week, and it made me feel a lot better mentally and physically. We all know how much I hate gyms and working out, so without my spin bike I started to get worried about the lack of physical activity I was getting. We live in an apartment, and I spend most of my day on the computer. That's not exactly the formula for an active lifestyle. I made it a priority and managed to fit in a few workouts this week. Woo Hoo for small victories! While I feel terribly out of shape and spent a good chunk of each workout fending Beesly off my mat, I'm excited to make it part of my routine again. My goal next week is to visit the small gym at the apartment complex. Oh, the horror! It's good to get out of your comfort zone, right?

TWO: Since we moved, I've received buckets of emails and notes of encouragement from old and new readers. It's a little bit overwhelming, but it leaves me feeling so very grateful. It's taking me awhile to respond to everyone, but you have no idea how much your enthusiasm has meant to me. I feel like I know a lot of you on a first-name basis, not just your Twitter or Instagram handle. Ha Ha! I just wish instead of sending note cards or hitting the reply button I could take you out for the venti of your choice. I try to make the most of each day, but we all have those blah moments, and sweet comments or a few cheerful words seem to brighten my day.

THREE: While Flyboy attends this 5-month training course, I'm not working. Instead, I'm using the time to hone my blogging/design skills and seek freelance opportunities. I feel very blessed to have this time to pursue creative endeavors, but some days I feel like a complete sham. I'm someone who thrives on productivity, and I wonder what it is exactly that I'm doing. Just when I get a glimmer of hope regarding a freelance project, something falls through, and I end up feeling like a silly girl behind a computer pinning in the name of her blog. When I feel discouraged, my family acts as my biggest cheerleaders. For instance, I was having one of those terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days, and my mom offered a much-needed pep talk. Days later, I got a text from my sister saying Anthropologie regrammed one of my images on their Instagram. Her joy was contagious and it made me ecstatic! She was proud of me, and while it made me giggle, I knew she was being so genuine and I felt grateful to be backed by someone who loves me deeply.

FOUR: The first weekend at the apartment, we ventured off to IKEA for some necessities. Tripp and Beesly hung out in our bedroom; we didn't expect to have any issues. Upon our return, we pulled into our parking spot and I looked up at our bedroom window. The window blinds were shredded. Excuse me, come again? I sobbed like a hormonal tween and refused to give her attention for a full day. It's hard when your bestie turns on you like that! We know it was Beesly because she's shown signs of anxiety in the past and Tripp is a giant scaredy-cat. Bees has always been a fabulous dog, but when we were in Hawaii she had an episode where she got separated from Tripp and took her frustration out on the guest room. I guess all of the CHANGE she experienced over the past month had caught up with her, and she taught us a little lesson. We were able to replace the blinds and we ended up buying another crate (that's a total of 4 for her), but I think we're finally at a place where we can leave the house and know that she's safe and won't wreak havoc. One week after this happened, I watched Julian's video, and I was reminded that even if pets do unruly things, life is far better with them. A little tidbit of advice — watch it with a tissue.

FIVE: I checked the 10-day weather forecast, and it looks like we're going to get a break from this 80-degree weather. Woop Woop! For obvious reasons, I'm excited to bust out sweaters and my trusty Downtown Field Jacket. I'm also excited to get some use out of this Vintage Sweatshirt I picked up at J.Crew last weekend. The lilac color is lovely, and it has the best lightweight, worn-in feel — perfect for layering. If you're looking for a basic piece that can be dressed up or worn casually, I give this one two thumbs up! One of each color puh-leez...

Alright, enough about me... 

What made you feel happy or grateful this week? Enjoy your weekend to the fullest, m' dears!

Image Sources: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5