It's been a while... so here's a total brain drain.

And a lot has happened!

• I took a long two weeks off from work to explore the west coast.
   
• I completed my HTL exam (and passed)!
   
• I started taking yoga classes several days/week, more on that soon. 

I've been looking for my next steps professionally, but I'm not sure that I've found them yet. I guess that gets a big old TBD. For now, I'm just going to enjoy having no school, no homework, no studying, no testing.

On top of having no education to worry about right now (outside of CEUs for work), I'm not working overtime for the first time in, like, a year!

(which is amazing actually.)

So what am I doing with all of this free time? Originally I thought I'd be running a lot more, finding my next area of study, etc. This week I took a step back and changed my mind.

On Monday, I tried to go for my first run after one week off, and I just wasn't feeling it. I'm just not up for forcing it, so I'm taking a little time off from running.

On Tuesday, I signed up for my first yoga class in almost seven years. It. Felt. So. Right. The studio felt like an awesome fit, I was excited before going, I was happy with it when I left, and I never felt like I was questioning how much longer I had to be there for.

I enjoyed it so much, Is signed up for another one on Thursday... and then another on Saturday, and in a couple of hours I will be going to a warm restorative class with reiki.

So, given that I'm still excited for every class, I'm going to lean into that (hehe little pun). These classes feel right for the time being; running hasn't been feeling right lately. Maybe in the coming months I'll miss running and want to do both, but for now I'm just going to do what feels good!

Other projects and activities I'm working on right now includes:

• My ongoing quest to reduce my carbon footprint and reducing my waste/daily trash output.
   
• Balancing my budget after a super speedy August (vacation is expensive, y'all... and LA is another can of $$$$ worms).
   
• I've been reading a lot lately! After a year or so of mostly novels/dramas/historical fiction, I've been throwing in a bit of self-help, and educational material.
   
• After eating out for the majority of our two weeks of vacation, I'm so sick of eating out so I've mostly been cooking everything at home instead! I've only eaten one meal out since August 14th (it's now the 26th).
   
• I want to share my experiences in LA, San Francisco, Napa, and Portland. I'd write about Seattle but I've already posted so much from past trips, and this last one wasn't really tourism-focused. I had the opportunity to meet my super precious baby nephew and honestly spent most of the time just catching up with my sister and taking every opportunity for baby snuggles!

So... that's my brain dump. That's some of the stuff that's floating in my head right now. Also, totally unrelated, something that just crossed my mind: we're supposed to be getting a garage spot on September 1st! I can't wait. I can finally get the little stack of storage boxes and bicycles out of our living room and bedroom after more than two years! Ra cha cha cha.

28!

♪ So you say it's your birthday...! ♪

It's my 28th birthday... I can't believe it! This year has really flown by. I've been working on this blog off-and-on-and-off-and-on since I was 25 years old; it's been about two and a half years. 

Looking back on older posts, I really enjoy reading about what I was into through past years and where I've trekked and what I've been up to. I wanted to share, for personal reference, what I've been up to leading up to my 28th trip around the sun.

• I've been very into running. I'm up to four+ miles without taking a walking break, and I'm about to venture up to my fifth mile soon.
   
• I'm engaged! Kyle proposed back in October. We haven't planned anything at all for the wedding yet. We have a date in mind but no venue picked out.
   
• I'm currently studying for my HTL exam... it's not really fun, but I'm trying to make the most of it.
   
• My sister is having a baby! In the next 30 days or so, I'm going to be an aunt! I can't wait to spoil this kid, even if he lives on the other side of the country.
   
• Kyle finally finished law school - four years later - and I can't be more thrilled to have him around!!! He's been super busy studying for the bar, but he's home and that's super cool.
   
• Charlie and Lucy are four years old now. Wah.
   
• My favorite place to buy clothes is Everlane, and my favorite shoes are currently my Rag and Bone chunky heeled sandals and my Birkinstocks.
   
• We're currently planning a post-bar vacation to the west coast; the plan is to fly in to Los Angeles and travel up towards Seattle where I will meet my nephew for the first time. I've never been to California or Oregon so I'm currently searching for some must-see spots.
   
• I've been brushing up on my French (as I took several years of French classes when I was younger), and it has also inspired me to learn some Spanish. It's a work in progress.
   
• This year I've started including some non-aquatic meat in my diet for the first time in probably almost two decades. Being a vegetarian after my celiac diagnosis felt uncomfortably restrictive for me, so I've been a bit more open-minded about my diet lately.
   
• My favorite albums right now are Forget and Not Slow Down by Relient K, Skin and Earth by Lights, and Junk by M83. I've also been really enjoying jazz.
   
• I've started playing with some watercolors this past year, and I've at least set up my sewing machine (although I haven't managed to make much with it yet).
   
• I switched up my blog in a big way!!! I changed everything from The Tiny Roar to Jenna Bug!

So, that's about it for the past year. I'm so excited to be able to look back on this in the future! This thing is like a dang time capsule.

(Makes me wish I could find all of the blogs I made as a young teen...)

As I used to say about ten years ago, TTFN!

(That's ta ta for now... y'know, for those who didn't grow up with AIM in the 90s.)

Digital Driftwood

Y'all, it's finally starting to feel like spring. Can you believe it?! This winter feels like it's lasting forever in the north-eastern US. I'm doing my absolute best to channel the warmer weather, though... I've got my favorite sandals out of storage for easy access and my nails are painted white before Memorial Day.

I've been channelling spring on the internets as well... here's what I've found.

• Everlane released the Day Glove and I'm thinking it could easily become a wardrobe staple this summer. Perfect option for leisurely bike rides around town!
   
• The other day while walking around town, we picked up a Surf Wax scented candle by Surf's Up Candle in Belmar, NJ. Now our apartment smells like summer and I am [incorrectly] under the assumption that it's at least 70° outside.
   
• Once a year our calendars say "Earth Day". That happened to be yesterday, but maybe we can treat every day like it's Earth Day in the future? I am so very inspired by the incredible humans out there who only produce a mason jars-worth of trash.
   
• We're spring cleaning the heck out of our apartment right now, so I really enjoyed these wine pairing suggestions from Bon Appétit.
   
• If you live in New Jersey, the Stone Pony in Asbury Park has released their summer stage schedule and tickets are officially for sale. I've got tickets to one show in particular so far, but I think I'm going to be attending a bunch this year because the lineup is awesome.
   
• For the last couple of years I've been struggling to stay motivated in the field I've spent my waking hours working in. I don't know what I'm doing or where I'm going or what I want anymore, but I'm really enjoying reading articles about other people who feel the same way, and turned out just fine.
   
• I finally started running again (running & I have an on-again-off-again, long-term relationship). My first word of advice is just to get yourself out there, feet to the pavement, doing the thing. Runner's World had some recommendations for top-notch apps and podcasts to kick off your New Year (hahaha, even if your new year starts in April) running goals.
   
• Yoga With Adriene is still a favorite fitness go-to for me, too.

Hope everyone has an easy Monday and a mystical, magical week!

Magic Macaroons

I’ve got a new favorite treat.

I learned how to make some super easy macaroons during Passover last month and they’re becoming a regular, quick and easy recipe. 

The way I make them involves four egg whites, half a cup of sugar, a splash of vanilla extract, a pinch of salt, two cups of lightly sweetened desiccated coconut, one cup of unsweetened desiccated coconut, and rainbow sprinkles.

I whisk up the egg whites with the half cup of sugar until it’s a bit bubbly and frothy looking; toss in the vanilla and salt and keep whisking for a bit.

Stir in the all three cups of coconut. 

Fold in as many sprinkles as you want (bonus points for the star shaped rainbow sprinkles). 

Scoop them onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet; there should be a perfect amount of mix for fifteen macaroons. 

Bake at 275° for roughly 30 minutes.

At this point I like to turn off the oven and let them sit just a little bit longer, I love the crispy toasted coconut bits!  They’ll stay nice and chewy on the inside, though.

They’re a bit less sweet than your classic macaroon, but that’s what makes them disappear so fast!

I bet you can’t have just one... we can’t! 

Old City Knoxville, TN

While on our little road trip last month, we spent one day staying in Knoxville, Tennessee. I'd never been to Tennessee before and it's only a couple of hours from Asheville, NC. I figured, why not add a stop and check out someplace new?

It was so much cooler than I even imagined. We stayed in Old City, and it has become one of my new favorite places, hands down. The architecture and aesthetic of the area really showcases its industrial history, including the old White Lily Flour production facility.

The White Lily flour facility is closed, but it was beautifully preserved and renovated to become the White Lily Flats, where we stayed via Air BnB.

I really loved the industrial vibe of the city; everything had an emphasis on the city's crafters, artists, and its creative culture.

Coffee shops, great bars, and really great food were innumerous. Generally, I have a hard time finding someplace that I really want to eat. You know the feeling, when there are too many choices and you jut can't decide what's best? Or when it seems like there's nothing nearby that's up your alley?

The options were unlimited here... we had no problem wandering around and choosing places to eat and drink, and there were absolutely no bad choices.

As you cross the border from Old City to downtown Knoxville's Market Square, there's plenty more shopping, eating, and drinking to be done.

But what I thought was especially cool?

They have a park in the middle of town that was featuring sculptures made by local artists. It was great wandering through and admiring them, and I loved seeing this cherry blossom by a little pond.

Full disclosure, I love cherry blossom season in DC, and I've only been able to make it down one time as a kid; so seeing the cherry blossoms in bloom in Knoxville was especially exciting for me.

If you're planning a trip to Asheville, I definitely recommend taking a couple of days to detour to Knoxville. I wish that I had set aside more time to spend there, but I fully intend on returning in the future!

Wish, wish, want | 1

make dress from the real real | laurent effel small leather-trimmed bucket bag from the real real
everlane women's day heel mule in mustard suede

To be honest, I want to wear this outfit every day for the entirety of spring... I'm really seriously considering it.

One Little Thing: Tarot Cards

I wanted to share a bit about how I like to use tarot cards in my everyday life. I feel like I need to preface this by saying, I am in no way an expert or any kind of tarot card reader. I’m not trying to claim to be, I’m only sharing what I like to do and why. 

You know that feeling you can get when you’re run-down from work; you feel like social interactions are a bit awry; when you feel like you need direction or guidance in some way; or like mercury MUST be in retrograde (but isn’t... ...or I suppose in this case it is

When I’m feeling a bit funky, tarot cards generally come to the rescue. Aaaaand this is where my complete and total lack of experience comes into play!

I give the deck a little shuffle, cut the deck, lay it on the table, and flip the card on the very top of the deck to the left (to ensure it stays rightside up/upside down).

Is that the ‘right’ way to do things? I don’t know. But I found a handy guide to help me interpret the card via biddytarot.com. I subscribed for their mini-guide (and because I find this stuff pretty interesting either way), it’s definitely worth it. Biddy Tarot is super clear and concise.

Then, I keep that interpretation in mind over the next week, month, or until it feels like it’s unnecessary, no longer applicable, or no longer serving me. 

For example, if I pull the death card facing upwards, I may want to anticipate a new beginning or a new chapter in my life. But if I draw a card upside-down and it has a negative interpretation, maybe I’ll use it as a reminder that things may be rough for a while, but that I will get through it.

Like I said, maybe I’m not doing this right, but it seems to help me feel like there’s some level of guidance out there for me.

(If there is a right or wrong way to use tarot cards and I’m using them incorrectly or  correctly, please feel free to let me know...?)

Asheville's Biltmore Estate

When K and I started planning our road trip to Knoxville, TN and Asheville, NC, I knew that the Biltmore Estate was going to be a hands-down must-see. K was skeptical... I believe the direct quote had something to do with "people paying to see wealth on display," but I had a more open mind. It might have had something to do with the wine tasting after the visit, but either way, it was significantly more interesting and fun than I could have expected of the day. More than once I described it as 'Disneyland for grown-ups minus the rides'.

Here's a just a few of the highlights from the estate itself.

I've written about this several times before, but I love books. I love reading books, I love hanging out in libraries, and I always have a book in my bag. So of course I was excited when I realized that I was standing inside a Vanderbilt mansion library. Books covered every wall; there was a big, old, sepia-toned globe standing next to a massive fireplace; which had a mantle reaching up towards a beautifully ornate painted ceiling.

It's the kind of thing you see in Disney movies but never thought would be a real-life sight.

I thought that the bowling alley was so cool. I've never been very good at bowling, but K is good enough that he has his own ball and shoes. We were both super intrigued, curious about how the balls were returned from the back, and wondering if that area behind the alley was where people would stand to reset the pins. There was something really beautiful about this to me; it looked so old-fashioned and yet brand new at the same time.

(We also liked the score board on the wall to the right of the alley itself).

Nearby the bowling alley was the fitness center and basement swimming pool. The swimming pool with its beautiful pearly-white tiles and wooden ladders were the kinds of things dreams are made of. Again, like the bowling alley, I was struck with a yearning for more attention to detail and texture like this. While I'm sure Michael Phelps would tell me that I'm being impractical, I do wish more swimming pools were this pleasing to the eye.

The. Kitchen. THE KITCHEN. My gosh. When I say the kitchen, I am also including the large walk-in refrigerators, freezers, pantries, and rooms meant for produce. Like, wow. That copper cookware collection, so shiny and beautiful. There were huge, deep sinks, meant to hold large parties-worth of dirty pots and pans and dishes. I was raised to admire and appreciate beautiful kitchens by my mother and father, who took me on many-a-trip to check out a beautiful Viking range and farm sink. My mother would love this kitchen, and I really want her to see it someday. I know she's not into the touristy parts of traveling, but I feel like a visit to this kitchen on a quiet day might be worth it for her.

Finally, this is the line where the estate versus the grounds gets a bit blurry, but I had to mention it, because it is technically indoors: the greenhouse.

So, first thing's first: you walk through the most beautiful outdoor gardens to get to the greenhouse. The second you open their big, windowed doors, the aroma of flora invites you to step inside and stay awhile. I was first splashed by the smell of orchids, and my, there were orchids... of all shapes, sizes, and colors. This made me think of my dad, who keeps an arrangement of orchids in his home office, by the window. He attends orchid shows and orchid sales, and he's quite the gardener beyond his orchids as well.

There are gorgeous little nooks to sit; it made me wish I had a good book to settle in with.

Beyond the estate, there are miles of garden to be walked. Again, at this point we're leaving the estate itself, but the grounds are just lovely. There's a small waterfall, wooden bridges over trickling springs... when I say this place is like the dream-location of a movie, I am not exaggerating.

Through my visit, there was a featured exhibit featuring the costumes from Titanic (which, of course, I loved, because like every other child from the 90's, I was obsessed with Titanic as a kid).

As I wandered through, I was thinking about how perfect a location it could have been for a Gatsby moment.

I think that it would be especially magical to see the estate in the late spring when the gardens and grounds are fully in bloom, and in the winter with some snow and the gigantic Christmas tree in front of the castle.

All-in-all, while it isn't the most affordable attraction, it's definitely worth it. In fact, if I ever found myself in the area again, I would go back without hesitation.

(And, just in case you were wondering about the wine tasting, that's worth it too... I might have come home with several bottles. No regrets.)