This weekend my plan is to slow down and enjoy each moment. My biggest struggle in life is that I am always thinking ahead instead of living in the moment. My best friend Amanda gets so frustrated with me because after each birthday I will say, “Wow, can you believe I will be such and such age next year.” Instead of living in the moment of being an age or at a point in my life, I am constantly thinking ahead. She is always so thoughtful and sends song lyrics and quotes to friends whenever they remind her of you (which I love). One day, a few years ago, she called to tell me that she found the, “theme song to my life.” How this song really made her think of me. It happened to already be one of my favorite songs – Vienna by Billy Joel. The entire song is about slowing down and enjoying the moment you are in, not rushing ahead and missing vital moments. When I wanted to move to Paris I would insert that name into the place where he says “Vienna, waits for you.” I used to think it was a place or a moment in life that waits for you but the more I hear the song, the more I believe “Vienna,” is  actually life in general. So instead of rushing ahead to get to the next point in life, slow down, because it will all be there for you when you get there. SO much easier said than done (especially in my case) but I thought it was great food for thought on this beautiful Friday!

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Whew! It is Friday! I seriously couldn’t wait for today. Not that I have any big plans or had a particularly stressful week, I am just ready for the weekend. I can’t wait to have a weekend full of dates and time spent with my hubs. We have both been traveling so much and had so much work  to get done we haven’t had a lot of time this week to just be and breath. We try to sit down for dinner every night without t.v., cell phones, or any other electronics/distractions. This is something my family did growing up and it was always our time to be together as a family and connect. The hubs and I decided these little moments were extremely important to us as well so we continued the pattern. However, this week we haven’t had a chance to do them – with him catching up on work from being gone and me attending nighttime events. Our schedules have really not connected and it is so hard. You really realize how much you appreciate those few little quiet moments together when you don’t have them. I just want to share the week with my buddy! That is why I am SO excited it is the weekend! We plan on having date night both evenings and hanging out with our little fur baby during the day! How much longer until 6pm?

In honor of Valentines Day I thought I would throw in a few little love quotes! Valentines Day has always been one of my favorite holidays (yes, it is a holiday). Maybe it is the hopeless romantic in me, but a day dedicated to love is okay by me. It actually makes me so giddy! Have you ever had one of those moments when a smell or place instantly brings back memories? Valentines Day does that for me. Something about all of the red and pink, the cards, and the flowers takes me back to elementary school, when I would get so excited to hand out cards and eat candy. I remember waking up and opening my door, when I lived at home with my parents, and every Valentines day my mom had made baskets full of little goodies for all of us. It was always such a happy day!

Now that I am older, and married, I still try to make the day as special as possible. Last year, I bought 50 balloons and 100 candles to fill up my entire apartment (so cliche but so necessary). This year, will be more low-key but just as special and fun! I know some people tend to bash today, which I have never understood, but even if you are an “anti-Valentines day” kind of person, at least try to enjoy all the free chocolate you are sure to get! Have a happy day, full of love! xo

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