Happy to be Alive, Because: Friday & Gatsby.

1. Friday is here, people!  I've said it before and I'll keep saying it: Friday just sounds so much sweeter on some weeks rather than others.

2. Chris. I've had a crazy, crazy week. One of those where you try to figure out everything in your entire life and then question everything you figure out at least twice. To have those weeks while living with someone you love that actually cares about your life? Incredible. 

3. As of this week, my book has been out for 3 months! That means I should be getting the first report soon. I can't wait to see how things are going and to try to decide next steps for that. 

4. I haven't had creamer since July 8th. This is huge, because I am a coffee freak connoisseur. But I was absentmindedly reading the back of a bottle and realized just how much sugar I was drinking (guzzling) first thing in the morning. I mean, as soon as pumpkin spice creamer hits the stores this will all go out the window. But it's nice to know I can actually do it. 

5. Gatsby cries every morning until I open the blinds. Then he sits and just watches out the window. It's the cutest thing ever.  

What made you happy to be alive this week?

Happy to be Alive: Books, Headbands, and Peaches.

1.  Tomorrow is moving day!  While this means that today will be crazy, I'm so looking forward to waking up in our new home on Sunday.

2.  I mailed out 58 of my books to reviewers this week!  The blog tour for my book is starting in two weeks...this means that 58 book bloggers I have never met will read and post about my book.  This is both insanely terrifying and thrilling, and I'm so excited to see what they think!

3. I made these headbands for my shop and asked Chris to take pictures of me so I could list them.  He was actually really good at it and I got to laugh a lot while listening to someone say I was pretty.  Hello, win-win.

4.  I'm working really hard on being okay with the fact that not everyone is going to like me.  This has a lot to do with the fact that I just sent 58 copies of my book to strangers.  To them, it will be 304 pages of words.  To me, it is 304 pages of three years filled with dreams and emotions and time and tears.  I'm working on being okay with the realization that there are going to be people who just don't like my book.  I was looking on pinterest (because duh, where else else do you turn when you're trying to learn a big life lesson?) and saw a quote I've heard so many times:

I'm pretty sure it's going to be a lifelong journey, but I'm going to try to remember this every are of my life.  Way easier said than done.

5.  Let us end on a wonderful note...it's a three-day weekend.  I wish you immense amounts of pool time with way too much sunshine and guacamole.

Why are you happy to be alive this week?

w h i l e   y o u ' r e   h e r e :

Thankful Fridays are the Best Fridays.

1.  My husband finally made it home and we were able to celebrate the best Valentine's ever together.  We really do have so much fun together. 

2.  Creative friends.  When the people in your life are creative, that creativity almost always rubs off on you.  Please go look at this gorgeous photo shoot my friend Megan did.  Stunning.  Creative friends inspire each other, and she definitely inspires me.

photograph p/o Megan Elizabeth Photography.

3.  How busy I've been.  Making things, shipping things, freelance work, actual work, repeat, repeat, repeat.  I've been so busy, but it's been busyness that's making money for my book.  I've never worked so hard on anything, I've never been so tired, and I wouldn't change a thing.

4.  My mom.  Because at least once a week I call her with a book update.  It's usually really no different than last few I've called her with, but I get so excited by the whole thing that I have to tell someone.  And she always acts as if it is the biggest deal in the whole world.

"The publisher called and said everything is going smoothly!"

"WHAT?! THAT'S AMAZING!"

She's the best. 

5. This turban headband.  And five other amazing headbands that will be coming your way on Monday. 

What are you thankful for this week?

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