oh, hey.

oh, hey.
yes, it is me again.
this whole disappearing from the blog scene is easier than i thought.
i blame my busy life, busy mind and endless tiredness.

it's october.
one of my favorite months.
it's full of weather changes, crunchy leaves, conference, crockpot meals,
pumpkin chocolate chip cookies,
the last four weeks of my second trimester,
snack size candy bars, crisp air and the best time of year for fashion.

life is good.
life is oh-so-good over here.
sometimes i fear that if i blink, i'll wake up from a dream.
but, daily, i pinch myself and remind myself that this life is real:
this beauty around me is a gift.
my husband is my biggest blessing.
this baby bump {little one swimming around} ties for first.
family is the core to having a life rich of love, support and purpose.
the gospel is divine.
daily breathe and health are also a true gift, never to be taken for granted.
love is the root of all happiness.

october is a month for realizing just how blessed i am. 
whether that be by indulging into a batch up pumpkin chocolate chippers,
or indulging in this life that is sometimes too good to be true.

happy october.

assessment of life lately.

reading: blackmoore. {this month's book club book.} i just started it and am anxious to get going on it. has any one out there read it... thoughts on it?

feeling: sore. i worked out for the first time since being pregnant. yes, i've been hiking, walking my dog all summer and such... but, i'm talking worked out with weights, resistance band, etc. my muscles hate me right now.

wanting:to know the gender of this baby, oh so bad. but, the surprise will be worth it. 

craving: cinnamon raison bagels, krispy kreme donuts and muffins. common theme? carbs. 

waiting: for so many things. mainly baby to come and my little brother to be home from his mission. both will happen within the next five months. yahoo!

loving: that fall {finally} decided to show up yesterday. this thrills my heart.  

wearing: anything i can fit into nowadays. fashion has taken a back seat in my life. 

wishing: every day consisted of fall weather, cups of hot chocolate, blankets and a good book.

cooking: more than ever right now. {the joy of not having rehearsal until 9:00 every night.} the crockpot and i have become best friends recently.

wondering: how time is passing by so quickly. it's already the end of september. where did this month go? where do summer go? where did my first trimester go? boom- they are all gone, so fast.

needing: warm baths to help me fall asleep at night.

anticipating: the holidays more than ever this year. i can't believe they are just around the corner.

hearing: so much advice on baby's and pregnancy. but, i like it because i need it.

i've seen this idea done on a couple blogs recently- and i loved the idea.

some people's lists are lengthy and some or brief.

here's my version.

i want to see yours. leave a link below, so i can enjoy your list.

xoxo

b u s y

life is is full swing right now.

dress rehearsals and performances galore.

one last final today. {thank goodness}

guests arrive in a few days.

christmas is just around the corner.

traveling home for the holidays.

christmas shopping and wrapping on the "to do list'.

and the list goes on...

i'm just trying to keep my head above water right now.

after this final is over, i have a feeling a big weight will be lifted of my shoulders.

i'm waiting for it to feel like christmas-

i don't know if it's because i'm too busy to realize it's just 15 days away,

or maybe it's because i don't live around snow anymore.

but, i'm guessing it's because my mind is purely occupied on nutcracker

and finals that i haven't even begun to have thoughts of christmas festivities.

i'm hoping that all changes in a few hours after i hand in my final. 

but, let's be honest- finishing your finals, feels like christmas come early every time. 

yahoooo! wish me luck. here i go. 

i look forward to jumping on the christmas bandwagon later today. 

where's waldo?

or, where am i?

{but seriously, can you see me?}

you may not be able to find me today.

well, okay, you'll physically be able to see me-  

but, mentally i have checked out. 

i've escaped to a land that doesn't involve reality.

you know, a world without....

 the demand for studying, 

bruised toenails {from ballet}, 

the requirement of eating vegetables, 

being sick with this annoying cold,

having your alarm go off before the sun rises,

dry and cracked hands,

{thanks to being a germ freak; aka washing my hands too often}

and freezing cold mornings that make taking the dog out dreadful. 

i'm not being ungrateful or unhappy in the slightest;

i just need a small break from life.

doesn't everyone though?

i'm taking my break today.

p.s. don't worry- i still plan on reading all of your blog posts;

they make me smile, laugh and feel inspired. 

moments interlaced with busy.

i sat at school today trying to study as my brain 

seemed to wander off to a land of it's own.

my music text book couldn't seem to captivate my attention,

as my brain managed to come up with the concept that 

life's companion is: "busy". 

without a life you couldn't be busy, 

and if you weren't busy or actively doing anything, 

life would be awfully dole or possibly cease to exist, in a sense.

but, then there is the argument of being too busy...

is my life at that point?

days like today, i would say yes.

but, is it all worth it? 

yes, definitely.

why? because the little moments in between the busy ones,

are what truly define your life and make it your own.

you know, those two minutes you get to see 

your hubby before racing out the door?

or the hour you spend eating dinner with your family?

the quick hello to a dear friend at the grocery store? 

reading a book for five minutes before your fall asleep from exhaustion?

a quick, yet romantic, walk around the block?

..........

these are the moments that make life seem doable-

no matter how busy i may feel. 

here are my little moments as of late:

{instagram username: eleasejane}

1. shhh! i snuck a diet coke when lovebird wasn't looking.

2. happy national sibling day! 

3. met baby Laken, and she nearly killed me with your cuteness.

4. date night: rock of ages.

5. puppy shopping.

6. quick snap-shop with my ballet director. 

7. believe it or not: my campus. gorgeous, i tell you.

8. toast+almond butter+bananas= best breakfast ever.

9. happy 40th anniversary to my parents!

10.my primary kids {well, some of them}. i love them as if they were my own.

11. this is what date night looks like when lovebird is out of town.

12. lovebird at crater lake. so jealous!

13. you are never too old to feed the ducks.

12. this 100 degree weather in october, still calls for gladiators.

i'm sure you have some little moments to share... 

let's hear 'em. 

just one.

source

i sometimes find myself wishing for this or that.

i often times try to be like her or her.

i always put a lot {too much} on my plate.

i sometimes feel like i don't see lovebird enough.

i often worry about my appearance way more than i should. 

i always say yes to people. 

{more like i have the hardest time saying no.} 

i rarely break rules. 

i sometimes wish money grew on trees; only so i didn't have to work so much.

i often feel as though i fall short of people's expectations.

{or rather the high expectations i have for myself}

i am a perfectionist.

 life is a gift.

here's the correct way of saying those phrases above:

i am grateful for what i do have. wishing is a good thing.

i am who i am, and lovebird thinks i'm perfect. so that's all i need.

i put a lot on my plate because i love serving others.

we are at a busy stage in life. time with lovebird is bound to come later.

{every minute i get with him now, is truly lovely.}

appearance isn't everything. in fact, in the grand scheme of things, it's nothing.

i need to learn to say no. 

i plan on breaking more rules. 

{as in, i may just have to give into that rebellious streak of mine.} 

money doesn't grow on trees, and for that i am thankful. 

{working for things is vital for true happiness and success.}

i won't lower my expectations. 

but rather be satisfied with what i did accomplish, instead of dwelling on what i didn't. 

i will always be a perfectionist; it makes life challenging, and that i love. 

i am truly grateful for the one life i have been given.

it is up to me to make the most of it. 

today, my attitude about life has been changed forever...

and i'll be certain to act accordingly. 

happy living! 

xo

earth and time.

happy monday.

i hope you had a lovely weekend.

earth day was certainly earthy over here.

we spent our time loving the beautiful weather outside.

of course we had homework, so why not take it outside and do it at a park?

genius idea, i tell you.

we are surrounded by national parks and there's no charge to enjoy them.
{thanks to earth day}

we just may have to take a trip to yosemite.
nothing beats the beauty of that place.

life is hectic right now.
if i could only slow it all down, add an extra hour to the day
or put everything on hold and concentrate on one thing at a time...
now, that's what i call blissful living.
if that were the case, it may actually feel like i am living a real life,
rather than feeling like i am in fast forward motion;
blinking and wondering how i say hello and goodbye
to the same day in a single sentence.

all this to say, i am looking forward for that moment when
life will suddenly slow down.
{it will, won't it?}
for me, it will be at the close of my ballet season and
after the end of the this semester.
{just a few more weeks. i can make it.}
maybe then, will be have time to explore all the beautiful
national parks we live so close to.
and maybe then, will the days feel like they pass me by one by one.

cheers to the start of a new week!
may the days pass slowly enough to enjoy them-
yet quick enough to get through them.
if you know what i mean.
xoxo