Sunday Gratitude (for naps)

// 1. My Sound Career has arrived. As has the fear. // 2. This pigeon escort me to the park. // 3. Bowl of morning joy. // 4. Enjoyed Korean treats at a Parisian bakery. Yes, you read that right. // 5. Family wedding in Chicago. // 6. Reverent, whisical church windows.

Happy Sunday People.

I honestly didn't realize it was Sunday until about an hour ago. This week has been BUSY and this weekend we took a whirlwind 20-hour trip to Chicago for a family wedding (congrats, Sean & Nicki!) Hence the disorientation on the day/time. Oh hence. This was a grand day for a nap.

Gratitude.

It was a joy to see some extended family this weekend. I've been living in NYC for a month now (can you believe it?!) and I've largely spent my time alone. Not in a creepy way, but I'm just new in town. I've been attempting to get a lot of things off the ground, work-wise, which often feels like a lonely kind of hustle. I'm thrilled with it, but it's also a strange experience, being in this city brimming with bodies and spending a lot of the day not speaking to anyone. Seeing family this weekend kind of filled in the gaps a bit. Stevie's cousins are so funny and silly and just COMFORTABLE and I love spending time with them. You know when you can just be yourself with some people? Well, it's hard to be anything else with these folks. Hence the adult-sized Christmas onesies, any of you remember?

Now I'm off to babble monologues to myself. Wish me luck in my attempts to memorize. I've got some casting directors to wow (?) this week!

Sunday Gratitude.

// When hydrangeas wilt you know it's summer's end. Oh Labor Day. //

Sunday.

Today I woke up to a hilarious text message from my sister. I guess she knows I've been a bit homesick (our recent snapchats have consisted of me, sending puppy faces, mourning faces, and fake-crying faces. Often these go without response.) However, she texted with a sisterly, all-knowing, "If you're homesick, here ya go!" The text included a video of my family at home on this fine day. My mom making breakfast, my Dad misunderstanding everything she was saying, and my cousin (who is pretty much a sister), glaring at Rachel, inquiring, "Why are you video-ing this? Are you taking a video??" Pretty much priceless. That kind of chaos is specifically Spencer-branded. There is no other family (that I know) that scrumptiously blends sarcasm, compassion, movie quotes and fervent prayer into such a wonderfully warm haven of laughter. It was just a comforting way to wake up. Realizing that even though I'm far away from "home" these days, the same kind of pattern is still happening there... and that just makes me happy. My goofy insane family is the same as ever. Somehow it cured a bit of my home-sickness. How? I have no idea. Sometimes the heart just needs a tiny taste of home.

Thankful for my sweet family today. What are you and your family up to this Labor Day weekend? I hope you are able to spend time together (labor-free), grilling out and laughing to your heart's content. Enjoy this end-of-summer celebration weekend!

Sunday Gratitude.

// View of the San Remo from the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir in Central Park. //

Grateful.

I started running again.

It's been a bit busy around my new home. Building. Cleaning. Unpacking. Overwhelming. I realized I needed to get out and get a bit un-focused. So I started running in my new hood. And wow. I am blessed. There is something fantastic to look at each and every moment.

I know the month of August is more than half over, but I only just realized that we're in the month of August yesterday. That's how crazed my mind has been. Downloading this darling calendar from Rebekka Seale has helped me appreciate the bits of the month that are left. It's like receiving a virtual bouquet of seasonal bliss.

I've been re-grouping and prepping for the week ahead. It's time to take action, get my work plan initiated, and engage this city with all that I have. My expectations for me are stacked to the Heavens. I have to remember to take a deep breath and give myself time to adapt to the new surroundings. The new surroundings make me marvel.

Thankful today for a husband who is as crazy nomadic as I am. Thankful for my new little home. Thankful for the sun coming through my window. And thankful for excellent Thai takeout that delivers 24 hours a day!

I love New York!

Sunday Gratitude

Well hello friends. I hope your weekend has been swell. And sunny. There are a lot of reasons I have to be thankful on this fine Sunday.

Brunch //

I had a spectacular brunch today with the crew from Progressive Palate. While we didn't progress in the traditional sense of the word (we remained in one steady location this time), we certainly forged ahead in plans for the future. Our combined travel itineraries for the summer span across the globe and I had a ridiculous amount of fun learning kitchen secrets from the in-house Roman-trained chef. Needless to say, the frittata was to die for. Be on the lookout this week for my recipe for Mango Coconut Baked Oatmeal. It was a real crowd pleaser.

Plans //

Stevie and I have been developing our Euro trip plan, and it's really starting to take shape. More to come on the planning progress later in the week, but I am very pleased (let's be honest, I am over the moon enthusiastic) about this month-long adventure we are about to embark upon!

Weather //

This is the biggie. I've whined A LOT about the cold dark Cambridge winter we've had (evidence here, here and here, most notably) but I am happy to announce that spring has really and truly sprung. Everything is in peak bloom right now and the streets of Cambridge look all gussied up and ready for a wedding. The trees have stretched their bare arms into the sky and have pulled the sunshine down into their roots. Suddenly tiny, wondrous buds have blossomed and I can't believe it was ever as icy as my pictures indicate. I am happy to share some photographic treats of this beauty. You deserve it, since you endured my bad weather attitude.

Oh the Glory.

I have so much to be thankful for today. So many wonderfully pregnant friends and family. Exotic travels in the near future. An anticipated move to a new city at summer's hazy end. And these beautiful flowers blooming all around, reminding me of life's sweetest, most progressive season.

Enjoy a moment for gratitude today.

Sunday Gratitude

Happy Easter! I hope your holiday weekend was marvelous. I'm a little sad that I wasn't able to be with my amazingly fun family for this holiday, but I am reminding myself of all the reasons why I am grateful to be here in Boston (aside from the fact that JESUS IS ALIVE!) I have a wonderful life up here in New England, but occasionally, I just miss being home and curling up with my mom and eating her signature popcorn. And laughing at my dad's shenanigans. With my pretty sisters. But as I sit here with a lovely glass of wine (and a pile of laundry to fold), I am remembering my week and celebrating how great it was. There is always something to celebrate, even if you are a little homesick.

My Week in Pictures:

// NYC presents in the mail from my favorite engaged friends, Meredith and Warren! // Tea Party and Bridge (yes, I know how "The Help"-esque that sounds) // Goldendoodle puppy I chased down the street. His name is Stanley. Pretty sure his owner thought I was hitting on him. // Google car! I posed. // Acting website is in progress... // Easter bike ride through Beacon Hill //

It's been a great week and I have even more to look forward to this upcoming week. Stay tuned for acting news, my adventures at Disney World and touring Massachusetts castles with my super pregnant BFF :-) Life is sweet.