Things I’m Loving Lately: Llamas and Journals

So, one of my friends thinks I should start a podcast.

I’m sort of toying around with the idea, and I asked for opinions on IG and am going to ask you, too: anything you’d want to hear from me?

I’m really looking at this time of not working full-time (I have a ton of side projects going on already — and please reach out if you’re interested in run coaching or blogging/content strategy help!) as a blessing to take some time to focus on nurturing myself and rebuilding after an incredibly tough and painful year. 

Here’s some of the things I’ve loved lately:

Meditating is one of the things that’s bringing me a bit of sanity. I <3 Inscape (also partially because the studio is dumb close to my apartment), and their new app is great.

I have a newfound love for my Sodastream. As a New Yorker, I have limited counter space, and I’d shoved it in a cabinet for a while, but I really can’t beat having bubbles whenever I want them, and it just lives on my counter again.

Did I mention I’m studying for the NASM exam? Heather had some great tips, including using an anatomy coloring book. (Alternately: my BFF is a physical therapy professor and we’re contemplating writing an “Anatomy 101 In Two Bottles of Wine” textbook. Would you buy that?!

I have been so much more into writing lately, but especially journaling.

(Are you following me on IG? I use Instagram Stories a lot, and I’m @theodorable on there.)

I’m all too close to the Chelsea Michaels, and I stop there…maybe too often? But, these three journals on top were each only $5.

My weird planner system: I have one (the sparkly one on the bottom) that started as my grief journal and is now my general/catch-all/get all the ugly feelings out too journal. I’ve been trying to journal daily in the morning to process all the thoughts whirling around in this little brain and, man, is it helpful. 

The next notebook up, I use as a professional brainstorming journal to capture ideas and plan.

The next guy up, I haven’t found a use for yet; the llama notebook, I use as the notebook I bring out to meetings.

This photo, intentionally creepy 🙂

Two things I’d like to mention here: 1. Grace had an awesome post about making your bedroom like a hotel room, and one little tip I picked up (which is such a duh, but…) was to put flowers next to your bed, so I immediately went out to Trader Joe’s to pick up some white roses. 2. Ashley keeps writing about Woodwick candles (they make a crackling sound as they burn, which is lovely), and I needed some small retail therapy the other day and picked up a few.

Eh, and 3: you can lead a llama to water, but you can’t make him drink.

I definitely don’t do enough cultural things in NYC by a long shot, and I need to change that. But! The other night, we had a Junior League Transfers Social at the Met to have drinks in one of the balcony bars and see the Rodin exhibit. One of our volunteers is an art historian, and we learned a lot about the Gates of Hell and how many of the sculptures we saw were parts of that larger work of art.

This one is super dorky, but as I’m trying to manage several different freelance projects, I really really like Asana for project management. It works just as well, in my opinion, for working solo as it did as part of a bigger company.

This is so weird, but I got this Trigger Wheel last weekend, and I’m obsessed with rubbing it on my cheeks for TMJ pain.

Are you running NYCM, too? If you haven’t watched this video yet, WATCH IT. But maybe grab tissues first.

I’ll definitely have some more NYCM posts this week and next — pre race, let me know what you’d like to see!

Last night, I roasted my first chicken. I felt very uncomfortable violating him and stuffing herbs in his cavity, but here we are. I had a group of girlfriends over for what we called “Fallmark Night,” to watch fall Hallmark movies. 

Forgive the crappy iPhone pics! But we also made some Pumpkin Risotto and these Espresso Pie Bars (the October issue of Food and Wine IS EVERYTHING.) I’ve been trying to entertain and cook more…and be less defensive in the kitchen. 

Also – I semi spontaneously booked a trip to Ireland in a few weeks. I’m flying into Shannon and staying near the Cliffs of Moher and would love recommendations (that don’t include Galway! I’ve been there before so I want to see new stuff.)

What are you loving lately and what are your fave personal development resources?