corley.

Are you ready, boots?
Start walkin’. 

Original Article

I spent my day thinking warm, snuggly thoughts of blankets and hot tea and Jane Austen movies on Netflix.

I knew that as soon as I walked in the door, I would be hard pressed to do anything other than snuggle with the dogs, turn on the TV, cover up, cuddle in, and drift in and out of a hazy almost-sleep until Josh got home from class.

So when I got home, I said hi to the pups. I took them outside in the rain. We all ran back inside. And I put on my boots, zipped my coat, and headed right back in to the storm.

It is so easy to call an end to my day when I get home from work. To eat dinner, put on PJs, and snuggle in for the night.

But when you are a person with goals and dreams and plans as big as mine, you really don’t have time for that nonsense. And as I am learning, sometimes that means you have to give up the comfort of a full belly and a warm puppy and a cozy blanket for a hard chair and headphones in your favorite coffee shop. Whatever it takes to make you sit up straight and get things done.

Do you feel my pain? Can you concentrate on your work after a full day at your job? Where do you go to stay on task?

Original Article

Although it took me WAY longer than it should have, I finally did finish 100 Years of Solitude. (You may remember I started reading it five months ago when I started this little online book club.)

By the end of the book, I felt like poor Ursula—and oh, how I loved Ursula—in her old age. All the characters, their lineages, and their stories blurred completely together. It was all I could do to keep things straight until the end, and I definitely relied on help from the family tree printed in the front of the book.

Muddled though it left me, I do feel like I achieved something by sticking it out with this book. I was tempted to overthrow it for something simpler several times, but I knew it was just too big a story to leave unresolved.

In a lot of ways, this book felt a little Biblical. The family tree grew gnarled, crooked, knotted with begats and with roots so long that the ancestors had become more like legends than family members.

I knew as soon as I finished 100 Years of Solitude that I would need to read it again. This first time was really just to understand what I was getting myself into—and I did sometimes feel like my shoes were made of cement or stuck in mud as I slogged through the densely woven web of stories. I’ll read it again, maybe next year, to actually process, understand, and enjoy. For now, I’m just glad I finished it at all.

I’ve got one more book to tell you about before the book club picks up in real time. Until then, what are you reading? Do you have a book to recommend?

If you’re interested in becoming a reader with me, leave me a comment and let me know! I’ll add you to the list.

Original Article

I’ve told you about my goals for 2012—now I want to tell you about my inspirations. I look to these people when I’m drawing a blank or feeling discouraged about where I’m going or what I’m doing in life. I hope these wonderful, talented people are just as inspiring to you as they are to me!

My mom

You guys, my mother is a powerhouse. It’s hard to believe that at this time last year, she hadn’t even considered running a 5k…and now, she’s running circles around me and logging miles daily. My mom has always been the best example of kindness, patience, and Southern hospitality; this year, she has become the picture of willpower and perseverance, too. I am so proud of and inspired by her every day.

The Schultzes

I know. How many times can I write about our amazing wedding photographers (and friends)?

What you have to know about Cheyenne and Geoff is that they are kind, helpful, caring AND wildly talented. Each time I’ve spent time with them, from our engagement shoot to meeting up for pizza, I leave telling myself (and Josh) that “I want what they have.”

What do they have, you ask? They have the drive, passion, and freedom that I was shooting for when I first launched out as a writer. They have their own business, they work hard, they make it look easy, and they rock at what they do.

When I first met Cheyenne and Geoff, I thought I wanted exactly what they have—down to the occupation. While I know now that I want something a little different for myself, it was an easy leap to make, considering how profoundly inspired I was –and still am—by this dynamic duo.

Mary Marantz

I started keeping up with several wedding photographers after I met The Schultzes and decided I wanted to be one. That ambition has (obviously) since evolved, but several of the photographers I found have stayed on my radar because they are such great resources and examples. Mary is one of those people.

She is so candid about her journey to where she and her husband are now—and I so appreciate that honesty. She is often just the reminder I need that these things take time, that I’m going to have to take baby steps, and that I will get there someday. Read her recent post called “There’s Something About the Chase” to see what I mean.

I could go on about each of these people—and I could list about a hundred more who I find inspirational. Maybe I’ll tell you about another batch in a few weeks—for now, I’ll leave you with these wonderful people and their inspirational mojo.

Tell me in the comments: who are you looking to for inspiration this year?

Original Article

2012: The Plan

I’ve got a good feeling about 2012. As I sat in the living room New Year’s Day, watching Homeland (which is SO GOOD) with my husband and our friends, I made out a list of things I want to accomplish this year – and I really believe I’m going to check off each of my resolutions in 2012. And THAT, my friends, is exciting.

Reach my goal weight by June 1
Did you know that I have been a member of Weight Watchers since before my wedding? Which was in 2009? That I had a goal to lose 30 lbs, total, and I somehow wasn’t able to get that done over the course of three whole years?

Well, now you know. I lost 20, gained 10, and now have about 20 more to go before I am truly happy with my body and my health. That’s not a lot. And the only thing stopping me from reaching my goal is me. So I’ve decided – this is the year.

12 in 12
I’m going to run a 5k every month this year. BOOM. And not only am I going to run – I’m going to run progressively faster until I can finish in under 30:00 (by June), and THEN under 27:00 (by December). I’ll post the races here as I register – so feel free to join me for 3.2 miles whenever you see that I’ll be running in your neck of the woods!

No More Debt
We are lucky – we have very little credit card debt, and yet we can’t seem to shake it all the way. So, you guessed it, this is the year. We’re going to be completely free of credit card debt by December 31, 2012. As long as the world hasn’t ended, that is. ‘

Read at least a book a month
Remember my book club? Probably not – since it was around for about a day. Are you disgusted that it took me until December to finish 100 Years of Solitude? I am. I’m mad that I didn’t bother to make time to read – but I had plenty of time to watch Felicity on Netflix and sleep until noon on the weekends and work into the wee small hours of the morning.

I love to read – but if you say you love something and then you don’t make time for it, how true can that love really be? This year, things change. Keep an eye on the blog for at least one new book club book a month. Read along with me if you’d like – I’d love the company! And I’m always open to suggestions.

Build a business
This is the biggie. It has been my dream for years to truly work for myself. And now that I’m halfway there, I’m realizing that I am missing some key elements of a small business. Like…a name. Or business cards. Or a website, or a logo, or did I mention a name? 2012 is the year that I truly become my own boss. This might be the resolution I’m most excited about – but really, I’m excited about all of them.

Original Article

I’m back! And so is Ukulele Wednesday!

I’m feeling the Christmas Spirit, so I decided to record a Christmas Classic! I hope you like my version of “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.”

Original Article