Books I Read in October (And Whether or Not You Should Read Them).

The Marriage Lie by Kimberly Belle c/o Netgalley
Plot: Iris and Will's marriage is as close to perfect as it can be: a large house in a nice Atlanta neighborhood, rewarding careers and the excitement of trying for their first baby. But on the morning Will leaves for a business trip to Orlando, Iris's happy world comes to an abrupt halt. Another plane headed for Seattle has crashed into a field, killing everyone on board, and according to the airline, Will was one of the passengers on this plane. 
Grief-stricken and confused, Iris is convinced it all must be a huge misunderstanding. But as time passes and there is still no sign of Will, she reluctantly accepts that he is gone. Still, Iris needs answers. Why did Will lie about where he was going? What is in Seattle? And what else has he lied about? As Iris sets off on a desperate quest to find out what her husband was keeping from her, the answers she receives will shock her to her very core. -Via Goodreads
My thoughts: I read this book in a day. Not because it was amazing, though I did want to find out what was happening. It was more that it was an easy read to lose track of time with...it didn't take too much thought to follow the story, and I curled up in bed and finished it in a few hours. 
It was an interesting plot that made me wonder what I would do in a similar situation-I mean, if you find out your husband is a pretty big liar, what exactly does one do? I thought the main character was very relatable and I liked trying to guess what choices she would make. 
It wasn't the best book I've ever read...it was a little cliche and predictable at parts, and it didn't really stick with me after I'd read it...but I will say this: The very last paragraph of the whole book made me want to stand up and applaud, and I'd throw in an extra star just for that. I love a good ending.
Should you read it? If you're in a reading rut and have some extra time, sure! It's a good read. But you're not missing anything life-changing if you skip it. 
The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware Plot: In this tightly wound story, Lo Blacklock, a journalist who writes for a travel magazine, has just been given the assignment of a lifetime: a week on a luxury cruise with only a handful of cabins. At first, Lo’s stay is nothing but pleasant: the cabins are plush, the dinner parties are sparkling, and the guests are elegant. But as the week wears on, frigid winds whip the deck, gray skies fall, and Lo witnesses what she can only describe as a nightmare: a woman being thrown overboard. The problem? All passengers remain accounted for—and so, the ship sails on as if nothing has happened, despite Lo’s desperate attempts to convey that something (or someone) has gone terribly, terribly wrong…
With surprising twists and a setting that proves as uncomfortably claustrophobic as it is eerily beautiful, Ruth Ware offers up another intense read. -via Goodreads

Favorite quote: "We all have demons inside us, voices that whisper we're no good, that if we don't make this promotion or ace that exam we'll reveal to the world exactly what kind of worthless sacks of skin and sinew we really are. Maybe that's true. Maybe mine just have louder voices."
My thoughts: I started this book off a little worried because the main character reminded me of Rachel from The Girl on The Train. Spoiler alert: I did not like Rachel. But a few chapters in, this book sucked me in. 
I didn't guess the twist (love when that happens) and I was bummed that I had to stop reading it to get some sleep...both signs of a great mystery. I try to read a good thriller every October and this one definitely fit the bill!
Should you read it? Yes!
First, Kill All the Marriage Counselors by Laura Doyle Plot: Laura Doyle’s marriage was in trouble. Marriage counseling made their problems worse—each session seemed to reinforce the feeling that she and her husband were just too far apart.
Desperate to avoid divorcing the man she loved, Laura tried something different: she started talking to happily married women, some for more than 15 years. What she discovered shocked her.

Everything she had heard in marriage counseling was wrong. Laura realized there are basic truths that can help women maintain loving, intimate marriages.

After seeing her own marriage transform, Laura set out to help other women do the same. In First, Kill All the Marriage Counselors, you’ll learn Laura’s “Six Intimacy Skills,” which have been used by over 150,000 women who have turned their unhappy marriages into blissful unions.-via Goodreads

My thoughts: First things first: I am a huge proponent of counseling. The author had a bad experience with one and got a catchy book title out of it. In no way does a book take the place of therapy. 
Now that we've got that out of the way...I enjoyed this one! I appreciated that it came from the stance of, "You probably love your husband and he probably loves you, so let's make your marriage even better!" Instead of, "Your marriage is probably falling apart and you probably suck and so does he so let's change everything about you." 
However...this book is one of those where you've got to take everything and sift through it. There was some stuff that was so good...and some stuff (especially towards the end) that made me think. "Um...say what now?" The things I took away from the book were incredibly valuable, and I was able to just disagree with the things I didn't like.
Should you read it? If you can take things with a grain of salt, yes. If you're the kind of person who likes to read self-help books and take them as complete truth, skip this one. 
What did you read this month?

Cigarettes, Friendship, and Love: A Beautiful Legacy.

My sweet great-grandma went to be with Jesus yesterday. I wrote a version of this post two years ago after calling her on her birthday, and it felt like the perfect thing to share today. 
If you read the post below, you'll see that she's spent over thirty years being faithful to her late husband, not so much as dating anyone else because she loved him so, so much. 
Today, she got to wake up next to him. If there's sleep in heaven I take that back...there is definitely sleep in heaven. Anyone who has ever had a good night's sleep can agree that it's a gift straight from above. She got to see her parents, who she's missed for such a long time. 
While it feels so sad to know that she's not here anymore, it brings me such sweet joy to know that she is with the love of her whole entire life. She loved him long after death-did-they-part, and now death has brought them back together. 
I've also been thinking about the great legacy she leaves behind. Her son, my grandpa, married the love of his life and had a beautiful family. That's all thanks to her. His son, my dad, has done incredible things with his life and touched so many people. Also thanks to her. Me, my brother, and now Jack...anything we do, any legacy we create...it all leads back to her. Man, that's a beautiful thing. 
I love you, Grandma. I hope you know what an amazing life you created. xo
// 

June 2nd, 2014:
My great-grandma recently turned 91, and when I called to tell her happy birthday, she cracked me up with the candor she spoke with.

She answered the phone by saying, "Yep.  I'm gonna die soon." And then laughed and laughed like she had shared an old joke and not a sad statement.  So I changed the subject and asked her about her life.

About her love life:

Me: "Grandma, do you have a boyfriend?"
Her: "I will NOT get into bed with another man, do you hear me? I haven't been in bed with a man since my husband passed and I plan on keeping it that way."
Me: "Grandma, I don't think anyone is trying to make you get in bed with them. You can just go out for coffee. Maybe dinner."
Her: "Ha! No thank you." Pause. "But you listen: I could if I wanted to. It's not like nobody wants to be my boyfriend, because they do. They definitely do."
Life Advice: 

"Do good. Read your Bible. Listen to that feeling in your stomach. And never, no matter what, smoke one single cigarette, ever. It's when you smoke your first cigarette that the devil comes in."

It was so precious to me, because one, I'm twenty-two.  The days of feeling pressured to smoke my first cigarette ever are pretty far behind me. And two, she's such a beautiful soul and truly sees things in that simple light: If you do good and don't smoke cigarettes, life will be pretty good for you.

Friendship:

"I never knew I had so many friends until this year. You won't know who your real friends are until you get really old. At my age, all the glitz and glamor is gone and you can't really do much for other people except be their friend. So if your friends call and come see you and invite you over, it's because they really are your friend. They want to be around you because they love you, not because they love what you can do for them."

She wrapped up the conversation in the same way she started it:

"Yeah, I'm gonna die soon. But don't you be sad for me. I've lived for a really long time and had a really good life. God has been so good to me. I don't want anyone to be sad for me, because when you get to be my age, death isn't so scary, it's friendly. Because so many of my friends have died, I know I'll have some great company when I get up there. I haven't seen my parents in so many years, and I know they'll be waiting on me. And did you know it's been over 30 years since my husband died? So don't you be sad for me, because I know he's up there. He maybe just barely made it in, (he smokes cigarettes, you see) but I know he's there. He'll be waiting to see me again."

My grandma has spent the past 30+ years loving the same man that she married.  Avoiding "the bed" (or even just coffee) with other men.  She has been devoted to him long after death did them part.

"Don't be sad when I die. I won't be sad. I'll get to see that man again. Oh, what a beautiful day it's gonna be. Right Chelsea? Don't you think so?"

Yeah, Grandma.  I think so.
//
Oh, what a beautiful day yesterday must have been. 

From the Cutting Room Floor: October.

The biggest event this month was the hurricane. Gainesville ended up being fine-not even a bad storm! But my little bub helped me prepare just in case.

Pretty sure that Gatsby might think he's a cat. His favorite place is perched balancing on the top of the couch.

Jack's new favorite activity: Crawling all over the house and ripping the doorstoppers off the wall. PS: I know they are a choking hazard. I took them away from him after I took the picture. DON'T YELL AT ME.

He may be nine months old, but he still gives those sweet little newborn snuggles when he's tired. I'll cherish them forever and ever.

My Bible study girls and our baby boys! 

Always standing now. A l w a y s. Send coffee. Lots and lots of coffee. 

Days off are a treat.

We went to Cracker Barrel (because fried okra, duh) and then sat in the white rocking chairs and played a very intense game of checkers. I won't tell you who won but OKAY fine it wasn't me. 

Days off are our favorite, but getting to meet Chris at the hospital for lunch is our second favorite. 

This is so blurry because it's a screenshot from a video, but I had to include it...it was his face when he realized he could stand up on his own with his new toy and it cracks me up every time. 

October, you've been a beautiful one.

What October Taught Me.

Life is short, live it well. A very good friend of my family passed away last week suddenly and very unexpected. It was obvious at her memorial service last night that she had touched so many peoples' lives. She lived life well. When we were leaving, my friend said, "It just challenges me to do better. She did so good." 
It's one thing to talk about how short life is and how we need to live it to the fullest when we're talking about going on vacation or going out on a Friday. But it's another thing to really, really think about it. Life is short. Every single day counts. Live those days well. 

It just doesn't get as important as the people you love. You can't beat time spent with friends and family. I think we get in our head that there is a certain level of importance...our job is high up there, our success, our to-do lists. But in what world does having a clean kitchen rank as more important than making memories with our loved ones? 
When your family truly needs you, drop your busywork and be there for them. When your friends want to come over for dinner, don't worry about your sticky floors and piles of laundry. Have dinner anyway. When you get a day off and you could either catch up on your to-do list or go to a pumpkin patch, my goodness...go to the pumpkin patch. 
You can't make more time, but you can make the most of the time that you have. You would think I would be a pro at this by now, but nope, still learning it daily. I don't get as much time with Christopher as I would like. It's not complaining, it's just a fact. Residency is a time-killer.  But. I do get some time. 
Sometimes taking advantage of that looks like planning a little day trip, and sometimes it looks like binge-watching our favorite shows on the couch all day. Either way...Whether you're working way more than you want, or you have the exact opposite schedule as your friends, or you're drowning in homework...we all get some time. It's up to us to make the most of it. 
What has October taught you?

   

40 Weeks With Jack: Forty In, Forty Out.

Jack has now been on the outside as long as he was on the inside. This is so crazy to me, and honestly freaks me out a little. Because yes, time flies, but I also feel like Jack has already been around forever! So now when I look back on I think, no wonder it felt like I was pregnant forever...BECAUSE I WAS. 
Moving on. 
Week Thirty-Seven: 

we were just hanging out and watching tv, and boom-you decided you could pull yourself up on your knees // you also starting loving riding on chris' shoulders // you puked everywhere, so we left church life this //just sitting around like a grown up // you're the happiest baby with your toys //just some casual baby yoga. 

my little snuggle buddy // as soon as you could pull yourself up in your crib, you would get SO grumpy if someone didn't come get you immediately. That face. It kills me. // family pool days are my favorite things in this world // the happiest guy in your swing! // you sit up in the grocery cart now, and it makes shopping so much easier! // you outgrew all your clothes, so I obviously bought you a new fall wardrobe that is a billion times cuter than any clothes I will ever own. 

Week Thirty-Eight: 

We went to the beach and had the best day ever. 

the ocean one day // the pumpkin patch the next // and buying hurricane supplies the next day. Florida is weird. // all clean and snuggly after your bath

you get the best bedhead // introducing you to pumpkins // so happy // and one day, you just decided you could stand up. 

Week Thirty-Nine: 

matching, down to the brand of the jeans // my sweet little babe, so snuggly when you're sleepy // now that you're on the move, you love to pull all the books off the shelf. 

Week Forty: 

we've been getting some chilly weather, so you get to swing all bundled up // my little bff // Gatsby thinks he's a human, and you think you're a dog // so happy to be all sunscreened up and going to the pool

I cherish these nighttime cuddles more than I can say // taking your fitness very seriously // can't stop, won't stop buying you clothes with animal ears on them // and so it begins...you pull yourself up on anything you can find and stand up. 

There you have it...the fastest and slowest and best 40 weeks of my life. 

Let's Have Coffee Together.

First things first, if we were having coffee, I would be drinking out of this mug that looks like Gatsby. For obvious reasons.  
If we were having coffee together, I'd tell you that I really, really want to chop my hair. Long hair is nice and pretty and all of that, but 1) mine is either in a braid or a bun on top of my head 98% of the time, and 2) I have so much hair that it takes about two days to dry, which is approximately how long it takes to get dirty enough to need to wash it again (blonde hair probs). 
I love my hair short like this, buuuut I'm not that thin anymore (post-pregnancy probs, amiright?), so I'm a little bit worried that if I chop it my face will look like a balloon. The round kind. 
In reality, I will probably talk about this worry for a few more weeks before randomly calling a salon I've never been to and demanding an appointment within the hour because haircuts always MUST happen on the same day I make the decision. Living on the edge over here. It's an exciting life. 
I'd also tell you that in my quest to eat healthier (and combat the holiday goodness that upon us), I bought a zoodler. It turns a zucchini into a bowl of noodles (or zoodles). So far I've made zoodle pad thai and garlic parmesan zoodles. I just have to say something to all of you who say you don't even notice you aren't eating pasta: You are liars. Dirty, dirty liars. It's not bad at all, it's even kind of delicious, but I am very, very aware of the fact that I am eating zucchini and not pasta.
I'd tell you that our first family trip to the pumpkin patch is happening on Friday and I can barely contain my excitement. All the fall things AND A BABY. HELLO HEAVEN. Spam you with pictures, you say? Okay, okay. If I must. 
In all seriousness, I'm feeling so thankful. I've posted on some more serious, opinionated, and heavier topics recently, and I'm so thankful for the space to write and talk and listen and learn. If you read this blog, I'm feeling very thankful for you today. 
Now let's get a second (or third, who's counting?) cup. Tell me what's going on in your life! 

It's Okay.

The last twelve months have made up the best year of my life, hands down. But it's also been a very trying year in a lot of ways. 
Having a new baby (no sleep ever), Match day (having no idea what state we'd be living in), ending one season and starting a new one (emotion emotion EMOTION), and a few things just too personal to share with the whole world wide web. 
It's been the best year ever, peppered with a lot of, "Wow, this is pretty hard" kind of things. 
Because of that-both the good and the bad-I've felt pressure to act and feel a certain way. For example, if someone asked how I was and I said exhausted, wouldn't it seem like I wasn't happy about having a new baby? Or if someone knew I was going through a rough circumstance asked how I was and I replied, great, we're going to the beach this weekend! Wouldn't it seem like I wasn't taking whatever was going on seriously? 
This is stupid, of course, because it comes from a place where we all know we don't belong: Caring entirely too much about what others think. But, stupid or not, it's something I've been learning. So I thought I'd share a few things, just in case you need to learn them, too. 

It's okay to have happy days during hard times, and it's okay to have sad days during happy times. 
It's okay to cry over how behind on your to-do list you are. It doesn't mean you aren't savoring this season of your life. 
It's okay to hate how exhausted you are. It doesn't mean you don't love your life. 
It's okay to be frustrated with your job. It doesn't mean you aren't thankful for it. 
It's okay to be overwhelmed by just how much work taking care of a baby is. It doesn't mean you don't love that baby, or that you're a bad mom.
It's okay to take a break. It doesn't mean you're a quitter. 
It's okay to go out to lunch and go shopping and just have a great freaking day. It doesn't mean you aren't taking the hard circumstances in your life seriously. 
It's okay to feel confident in your accomplishments and to celebrate the tiniest of successes. It doesn't mean you aren't still working hard. 
It's okay to ignore pressing matters for a bit and take a coffee break instead. It doesn't mean you're irresponsible. 
Maybe that seems like a bunch of jibberish to you, or maybe you need someone to tell you that they way you feel is okay. If that's the case, let me just tell you: it's okay. it's okay. it's okay. 
What are you learning is okay? 

Letters to Jack: Nine Months.

Baby Jack, 
The first time I woke up in the hospital after you were born, I looked over to see your tiny sleeping body next to me and thought, through exhaustion and pain, "I couldn't possibly love you more than I do in this moment." And I was wrong.
A few months later, I came home from one of the first times I'd ever been apart from you, and you started babbling and giggling at me for the first time. My eyes filled with tears and I knew it wasn't possible to love you any more than I did at that moment. And I was wrong. 
We went to the beach with you a few weeks ago, and it was one of the best days I have ever had. The weather was perfect and you loved the ocean. I watched you scoot around trying to eat seashells and thought to myself, I will never be happier than I am today. I will never have more love in my heart than I do in this moment. And I was wrong. 
I know that my entire life will look like this. Over and over I will come to the conclusion that I couldn't possibly love you more, and over and over I will be wrong. 
I know this because on Thursday, we had a really crappy day. I was sick. You broke your car seat while we were out, and I didn't have my wallet and couldn't buy you a new one. So I spent an hour in a parking lot trying to balance holding you and figuring out a way to fix your seat. We got home and you skipped your nap. I had a lot of work to do, but a project that should have taken me thirty minutes to finish took me three hours because you screamed every time I left your sight.
It was a trying and tiring day. There was no trip to the beach, no one around to help me out, no happy, well-rested baby. But as I wrapped you in a blanket and rocked you to sleep, I kissed your chubby little cheeks and my heart exploded, just like it does every day. And I knew, deep down inside me, that I couldn't possibly love you more than I did right at that moment. 
And I knew, deep down inside me, that I was wrong. 
Happy nine months, sweet little love. I have never loved you more than I have today, and I promise I'll love you even more tomorrow. 

Today I Learned I Will Never Be Exceptional (And It's Only 5:00AM)

Have you ever stumbled upon something that just instantly made you so angry that you feel like you truly might explode? Sometimes I wonder what I would do in those situations if I didn't write. Maybe I actually would explode. 
I was writing a post that had the word "assume" so many times that I started questioning if it was actually even a word because it looked so weird (you totally know what I'm talking about), so I Googled it. And I'm not sure how, but the first thing under the definition was an article named, "I Look Down On Young Women With Husbands and Kids and I'm Not Sorry." So obviously I clicked on it...
...And now my skin is on fire and my heart is pounding too fast and I can't feel my hands and RAGE RAGE RAGE. 
So here we are.
First things first, apparently this was a big deal almost two years ago and I just somehow managed to not hear about it. But just in case you're like me and don't know what I'm talking about, here are the highlights:
"Every time I hear someone say that feminism is about validating every choice a woman makes I have to fight back vomit.

Do people really think that a stay at home mom is really on equal footing with a woman who works and takes care of herself? There’s no way those two things are the same. It’s hard for me to believe it’s not just verbally placating these people so they don’t get in trouble with the mommy bloggers.

Having kids and getting married are considered life milestones. We have baby showers and wedding parties as if it’s a huge accomplishment and cause for celebration to be able to get knocked up or find someone to walk down the aisle with. These aren’t accomplishments, they are actually super easy tasks, literally anyone can do them. They are the most common thing, ever, in the history of the world. They are, by definition, average. And here’s the thing, why on earth are we settling for average? If women can do anything, why are we still content with applauding them for doing nothing?

You will never have the time, energy, freedom or mobility to be exceptional if you have a husband and kids.

I hear women talk about how “hard” it is to raise kids and manage a household all the time. I never hear men talk about this. It’s because women secretly like to talk about how hard managing a household is so they don’t have to explain their lack of real accomplishments."

I am not even going to list all the reasons I find this outrageous and completely disagree with it. Okay actually yes I am. But only a few things that I just have to say, because I could literally type about this all day and then this blog post would be eighty pages long and you'd never read my blog again. But a few things:

1. I guess this author was just magically beamed down from the heavens and not born like the rest of us? Either that, or she truly believes that her mom did nothing and lost all chance at ever being exceptional once she was born. 

2. We currently have a woman running to be the FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES who has both a husband and kids. Whatever your political views, and think we can all agree that is pretty exceptional. 

3. I would also like to know why someone who has never had a baby is qualified to say it is literally the easiest task ever? If you think that, please go read my friend Chelsea's birth story. Then pop back over here and tell me about how easy that is. 

I think the reason this bothered me so much (besides the fact that is just a bunch of nonsense) is that there is a perception of wives and/or moms that I feel like I have to work to not fall into. The following things are things I have actually thought recently: 

If I put that I'm a wife in my instagram bio, people are going to think I don't have my own identity. 

If I post too many pictures of Jack in a row, people will think I'm only a mom. 

If I write too much about being a mom people are going to start unfollowing my blog because they can't relate to me. 

If I say how fulfilling motherhood has been for me, it will seem like I am talking down to my friends who don't want kids. 

^^Also all nonsense. 

So hi. I'm Chelsea. I'm a feminist (And I strongly believe that if you are someone who does not describe yourself as a feminist, that you don't know what the word actually means). I am married to the love of my life, and I freaking love being a wife. I have a baby, and I freaking love being his mom. And yes, a lot of my identity is made up of the man I married and the baby I made. Why? Because I get to do life with the people I love most in this world every single day, and my love for them is a big factor in making me who I am. 

I do dishes and cook dinners and do laundry, and you know what? Sometimes I DO think those things are hard. I also have a job. I pay a mortgage. I take care of myself, AND two other people. I'm sorry that somehow that is not on the same footing as one person taking care of herself. 

Yes, I am busy and tired and sometimes tied down by a baby (hey, you never wake a sleeping baby!), but I still think I have the time, energy, and mobility to be freaking exceptional. 

I consider myself a feminist all. day. long. And because of that, this article makes me sick. 

To my friends who have kids: You are not simply average.

To my unmarried friends: You are exceptional. 

To my stay-at-home mom friends: You are world changers. 

To my career-minded friends: You are incredible. 

To my friends who are in love with their significant other, to my friends who truly love being single, to my friends who are unemployeed, to my friends who are stuck working a crappy job to make ends meet, to my friends who are human beings, who are alive, who are making their own choices for their own lives: You are your own person. And that person is magnificent. It is full of world-changing, exceptional, non-average, outrageous amounts of potential to be anything and anyone you want to be. 

Love The Life You Actually Have.

Halloween is in nineteen days. Fall may be my favorite, but Halloween is by no means my favorite holiday. This year is different, though, because Jack is here. So you better believe I will be Halloweening to the fullest extent. 
This year is also different because Chris is in residency. So even though Halloween is less than three weeks away, he has no idea what his schedule will be that week, and if it's a day he'll have off or not. Probably not. 
He probably will also not have Thanksgiving off, or Christmas Eve, or Christmas. 
This is not to say, "Woe is me, my life is so hard!" This is to say, "My life is different right now."
And here's the thing: I freaking love my life. Sure, residency isn't my favorite thing in the whole world, and there are sometimes more hard days than I would like, but overall, I am really so in love with my life. I'm in love with who I get to spend it with and where I get to spend it. And I think a big reason why my little holiday loving heart is able to be so in love with a life that sometimes has to skip over the holidays is because I know my life is different right now. 
A long time ago, before residency was on the horizon, my mom told me that holidays are whatever day you make them. That you can reschedule your holidays for whatever day works for you.
This year, I'll be doing just that. Thanksgiving might not be on a Thursday. Christmas probably won't be on the twenty-fifth. Sure, I'll probably shed a few tears on the actual holidays. I'm sure I'll be frustrated at the lack of flexibility with holiday plans more than once. But that doesn't matter, because we will still have the best holiday season ever. Because this is our life, and we have each other. 

This life...the one you've been given, the one you're living in...whether or not it's the life you imagined, it's the life that you actually have. There are some things you can change about your life, but some of life is just out of your control. Don't waste the life you have being upset by circumstances. 
If you have to reschedule your holidays this year, do it! Who says Thanksgiving has to be at the end of November, anyway? If you have less money than you were expecting and Christmas presents don't seem to be a possibility, hit up the dollar store and buy some silly things. If you aren't able to travel to be with family on the holidays, FaceTime them and then plan the best day ever for yourself in your town. 
This, right here, is life. It's your actual life. It may take a little bit of work, but it's so important to learn to love it. It's so, so worth it. 

Things I Believe in This Week.

Anyone else have to pause the debate and leave the room several times last night to avoid an anxiety attack? No? Just me? Cool cool. 
Happy Monday! Let's let go of that debate hangover and talk about better things. 
This week, I believe in...
...Taking advantage of time off. I'm still feeling refreshed from our little beach day. It cost money and effort and time and it was worth every single one of those things. Don't spend every day off you get in front of the TV. Don't spend every one catching up on your to-do list. Every now and then, take advantage of your time off and go.
...Celebrating cooler weather. And by celebrate, I mean go for a walk. It is currently 58 degrees here (UNHEARD OF FOR FL OCTOBER) and I am about to take Jack out and soak it all up, because it'll be back to 80 tomorrow.
...Speaking of celebrations, I believe every occasion should be documented with a jib-jab card. Today is my mom's birthday, and you best believe MC Hammer Jack send her a dancing birthday card. 

...So much of life should be about living in the moment. I was having dinner with a friend last night and she said her and her husband had enjoyed a fancy bottle of champagne they were given as a graduation gift. Chris asked her if it was a special occasion, and she said, "yeah, my husband was home from work and we had a night off together." Freaking YES. 
Way too much of life is spent being responsible and planning and waiting. And yes, that's necessary and often good. But if you don't balance that with living in the moment when you can, where's the fun? 
Live in the moment. Make the most of your days off. Go to the beach. Buy the new dress. Drink the expensive champagne. Go for a walk instead of doing the dishes. Follow up your workout with some ice cream. 
Life is short, live it well. That's what I believe in this week. 
What do you believe in this week?

What IS Florida?

Last week we spent a day at the beach. A few days ago we celebrated fall around some pumpkins. I'm currently drinking pumpkin spice coffee, and there's a hurricane happening. This is how Jack feels about all of that. I don't blame you, buddy. It's confusing. 
This is my first ever (real) hurricane. Luckily, I'm not at the beach, and hopefully, the extent of damage here will just be some bad storms and maybe power outages. However, since I experienced an entire three days of hurricane prep, I am now obviously an expert and am here to share with you what I have learned. 
Jokes. I know nothing. But here's what the last three days have taught me:
People are savages. As of Monday, Florida was probably not in the path of good old Matthew. As of Tuesday, that had changed. Chris told me it was probably a good idea to swing by Target and get some extra baby food and water, just in case. I took my time getting there, because 1) We're not beachside, so surely no one is taking this too seriously, and 2) It's still really early in the week, surely no one is freaking out yet. 
Wrong and WRONG. 
My first clue was the woman sprinting out of Target who almost ran me and Jack over with her cart because it was piled too high with water jugs for her to see where she was going. My second clue was Target looking like it does the afternoon of Black Friday. 
The water and dried food sections had just been ravaged. There was stuff all over the floor. People were yelling at employees. I don't exactly understand why a hurricane coming would cause you to throw pasta on the floor, but hey, you do you. 

People are kind. If the weather channel is right, my hometown is about to get wrecked by this hurricane. I've been on facebook way too much, following along with everyone's evacuation plans. One thing I have seen so much of is people offering to help their friends and genuinely meaning it. I saw someone say, "It's one thing to say, 'Let me know if you need anything!' And another thing to spend hours helping your friends hurricane proof their house." 
I've also seen lots of people take in pets they've found wandering around so they don't get caught in the storm. In the words of Mr. Rogers, look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping. 
People are also suddenly weather experts. It does not matter if they have ever even watched the weather before, give them a smart phone and a twitter account, and they know everything. They know that you HAVE to evacuate. They know that the storm actually won't be so bad, so there's no need to evacuate. They know that you are stupid because of where you evacuated to. 
They are experts. 
I am not a real adult. My husband is incredibly responsible and exactly who I would want to be with in a disaster situation. My husband is also a doctor who will not be allowed to leave the hospital, even if my house does happen to blow away. This makes me so panicky. 
My mom called me last night and said, "We're watching the weather channel and we think it would be smart if you keep an eye on the weather for your area, too." I said okay and thought about if for approximately four seconds because saying, "Yes...but like, also....can Dad actually keep an eye on it for me?" I have a job and a baby and a house BUT I STILL DON'T KNOW HOW TO ADULT. 
Are you in the path of the hurricane? Stay safe, friends!