Over the Weekend: Chicks and Flowers

(No respect for plants. No respect!)

It feels as if it's been forever since I last recapped my weekend. Life is busy, the city is in full bloom.

When warm weather hits, there are few things greater than that first drink consumed outdoors, on the first evening of the season warm enough to allow such things. I let myself be coaxed out of my original plan to go running on Friday night in favor of after work drinks at Johnny Brenda’s with a couple of friends. I regret nothing.

On Saturday morning I finally took care of what we’ve come to refer to as the “Murder Hallway” and/or “Secret Shame”… the hallway leading from the front half of our shotgun-style apartment to the bedroom in the back. We’re still dealing with downsizing and figuring out storage in our new (smaller) living quarters, so over the past few months the hallway had become a dumping ground for things that had no home. It was bad. Really messy and hard to walk through while holding the cat – a common occurrence. I cleaned the FK out of it on Saturday and while there’s still stuff in there, it looks 150% better.

Saturday also happened to be the most gorgeous day of the year so far here in Philly, and I instantly regretted falling down the rabbit hole of cleaning. As soon as I finished I headed out with my camera into the South Philly sunshine. The flowers and trees are in full bloom here and I didn’t want to miss it. I wish Chris and I could have aligned our schedules so we could have gone to see the cherry blossoms in DC or even just to the parks here in town. But a solo venture is just as nice at times, plus it gave me a chance to pop into a few vintage stores along the way.

I’m doing a gardening project for work, which required plants and pots and soil. Rather than go to Home Depot, I made the trek up to Greensgrow, in Kensington to pick up my supplies – and I’m so glad I did because baby chicks. My brother just got chickens at his place out in Oregon, and is planning for bees soon too, and I’ve been feeling especially jealous of his situation. So gifs of baby chicks is the next best thing, right? 

I really need a vacation. This is related to nothing but the fact that I think I really need a vacation.

The tacos and drinks at Loco Pez are my favorite. Also my favorite is the fact that three people can have multiple drinks, chips, guacamole, salsa, and three tacos each for under $50 total. Loco Pez is the best. Especially on a warm Saturday night.

Sunday was far quieter – I’ve been spending most Sundays shooting and getting caught up on projects. Grabbed some stuff at the office to shoot at home, reluctant Home Depot run, planted my plants, spent 45 minutes trying to figure out where to put the plants, spent too much time on the internet. Drank too much coffee. Eggs again for dinner.

What have you been working on lately?

Over the Weekend: Hushed Sway

Well it feels like it's been about a decade since I wrote any sort of over the weekend/life recap. In reality, probably December. The start of this year has been a quiet one, spending most of January getting life in order, most of February seeking health. I ended 2014 feeling haggard. I wasn't getting enough sleep, I had all but abandoned the gym, and my eating habits were showing all over my face and felt in my joints. So I've been spending the past couple of months resetting myself, getting back to health... sleeping so much more... not drinking (it's kind of incredible how awful alcohol makes me feel), finding the foods that make me feel the best, and reacquainting myself with the gym. My schedule used to be more flexible, so I've had to learn all over again how to fit these things in my life, and yeah, finding balance again after losing it is proving to be a difficult journey.

So I am welcoming March with open arms. I'm ready for this new month and (hopefully) a gateway into spring, Chris and I have been doing a lot of exploring outside of the city over the past couple of months. Focusing on all things free as he looks for a job, which pretty much translates to all things outside. And I'm totally OK with that. Chris starts his new gig on Tuesday, which means these impromptu road trips and weekend journeys will be fewer, or at least far more precious. Last weekend we headed up to one of my favorite PA state parks, Hickory Run, to use the gorgeous snowshoes my mom gave us for Christmas. It was what we both needed. An escape from the city for the day. Every few weeks, there comes a time when the city streets begin to close in around me. Suddenly, the beautiful brick row homes that line the streets feel more like barriers than my neighbor's lovely houses, like walls closing in. The icy, un-shoveled sidewalks a hindrance; the defensive attitudes of city-dwellers (city drivers) a splash of ice water on even the most positive mood. I found myself slipping into this funk last weekend, the drive to the grocery store and then home to my apartment after work had been a battle, and even though it was Friday night, the thought of going back out again felt like more than I could handle. When this feeling arises in my soul, the kind of feeling that's tough to describe but when attempted falls somewhere between trapped and cabin-feverish, I know it's time to get out. Growing up in the woods was an experience that I never expected to affect me so strongly. But now, on days when city living just gets to be too much, I long for the hushed sway of pine trees and infinite silence that only comes with deep, dark woods.

To stand beneath the forest canopy, basking in the joy of pure stillness, of nature just doing its thing.

A Walk Around The Wissahicken

Our hiking plans for the past few weekends have been thwarted by one thing or another. Car trouble, waking up late. General unpreparedness. We had big plans to drive further North, but ended up on a low-key ramble around the woods of the Wissahicken. Not exactly the all-day hike I was looking for, but gorgeous in the late-autumn sun nonetheless. My Amazon cart is now brimming with hiking and outdoor guides for Eastern Pennsylvania, because there is always next weekend.

I'm happy it's finally hat weather. Makes covering up the mess on my head all the easier, and thanks to Lyndsay from The Seam Designs, I can finally stop stealing Chris' red beanie. Because I'm in complete and total love with this one. Red hats, they're the best, right? Even better with a pom pom. I have another outfit post for this week featuring it, proving that red is far more versatile than one might think.

Outfit details: similar jacket, similar jeans, LL Bean hiking boots, The Seam Designs hat.

Ubiquitous Fall

Fall, why are you the most lovely, and the most fleeting? I say this nearly every month, but I can't believe October is almost over. Time is moving at an alarming rate these days and I'm trying to savor as much of this season as I can. A few weeks ago my mom rolled into town for the weekend, and despite 80 degree temperatures, we headed out of town to pick apples. I love being closer to home again. Eight hours may sound like a long drive to some, but it sure beats the fourteen hours it took to get home from Pittsburgh. We actually get to go back home for Thanksgiving this year, and I can't wait.