Beating December Blues

I don't know about you but December leaves me feeling cold, harried and I start to feel the onset of cabin fever. It seems to have escalated this year with the absolutely FREEZING weather. There are definitely the happy things like Christmas and all that comes with it but I thought I would share with you 6 things that are getting me through the holiday craziness and keeping a smile on my face.

1) James Tissot. I go through these time period phases. I find myself convinced that if I lived "back then" that's where I would fit. I would feel most comfortable there. I would find my true self. I know none of this is true but I seem to sometimes rationalize it. James Tissot is a French painter from the Victorian Era. His paintings are mostly of everyday life and they are beautiful. Just look at them and try not to wish yourself to another time. I dare you.

2) A Fine Frenzy's album Pines. I've always loved Alison Sudol. I think she is adorable and her music has always seemed really organic and sweet to me. Pines came out in 2012 and at first I felt it was kind of whatever BUT in recent weeks I've fallen in love. It's calming and simply lovely. Please check it out! Riversong is my favorite. I have it on in the background as I finish my final projects for school, decorate our house and quilt.

3) Keeping with the Sudol trend, I've been watching this video on repeat. It's called Lost Things and it's beautiful. I don't have much else to say about it except WATCH!

4) When I'm feeling particularly worse for wear, I watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer. For some reason watching Sara Michelle Geller fighting demons always makes my problems and frustrations about my lack of gift ideas seem particularly small. Unfortunately I've become a Buffy fangirl. My husband... has not. I'm hoping the more I watch it the more it will grow on him. Although I don't think it will.

5) Now I've just started this book called the Diviners by Libba Bray. I've always loved Libba. Her Gemma Doyle Trilogy changed my life. I'm only about 1/4 of the way through this new book and so far I love it. It takes place in 1926. My only warning is you might want to brush up on your knowledge of 1920s slang before you jump in... Sometimes I find myself having to look up meanings for things BUT I'm getting the hang of it.

6) Last but not least... ALL of our pictures are finally hung! Our apartment is starting to look... well like it's actually lived in. It makes me so happy to look around and see everything put together. I'm an absolute nutcase when things aren't put away.

Hopefully some of things things will help you chase the December blues away. If they don't, no stress. Put on some Bing Crosby and Nat "King" Cole and call it a day. Tomorrow just might be warmer!

Oh life...

If you're here for profound musings today, you have most definitely come to the wrong place. I've been settling into my new life and it's amazing to me how quickly I adjusted to wifehood (and let's be honest a tinge of parenthood) and living in a new city. I've also been thinking about how ill prepared I was for this whole scenario. Don't misunderstand me. I do not regret my life one bit! It's miraculous and marvelous and kind of magic. There are just some things I did not know that I wish someone would have shared with me.

1) You will gain weight. There are no ifs ands or buts. You will. You won't mind at first but then you will mind. A LOT. Probably when you realize your fat pants are getting a little tight. That's just what happens when you start cooking for two and something that makes four servings is divided in half. Thankfully my husband hasn't commented on my new "fluff" or maybe he likes my butt getting bigger. Who knows?

2) Combining objects and habits can be hard. Parker has this horrible picture of two raccoons. He loves it. I hate it. I wanted it no where near our apartment. I seem to have won that battle but trust me, there are others I lost. I'm kind of a selfish girl and I forgot that the apartment is our place to share. Parker will say that ultimately I make the decisions there BUT it took me a bit to realize that he should be able to contribute too... even if I end up with raccoons fishing on my bathroom wall. Also no matter how hard you beg, he probably won't put away the toothpaste tube... and that's the life you chose. Hopefully our problems stay toothpaste tube sized.

3) Compromising will happen a lot. Sometimes you want to have an adorable Christmas Card. Sometimes your husband won't agree unless you wear awful awkward sweaters. So you've got to settle for awkward. Fortunately for me, I love awkward and you end up with a lot of hilarious edits.

4) Finding couple friends is hard. That's all there is to it.

The point is, there are stolen sheets and arguments over raccoons but life is so happy. I've always said that you make your life, you forge the life you want. I'm loving mine. I married a dreamer... a sometimes grumpy and goofy and super adorable dreamer, but a dreamer nonetheless. I can't wait to see where we end up.
Thanks for listening.

Much love from my home to yours,

Sydney L Johnson-Alleman