TEN SIMPLE THINGS || CELEBRATION

( just a few of the views mitch and I walk past everyday )

it has been one busy week preparing for tomorrow's event--it's called celebration! a week full of decoration making, vocal coaching, script writing, program designing, and lots and lots of diet coke to sustain me in the wee hours of the morning. if you're in the area, totally feel free to come out for a night of song and drama and poetry and cookies. lots of cookies. it is free, btw. meet me at 7:00 upstairs at carl&sons on saturday night. it should be done in time to go do whatever the cool kids do on the weekends. as for me and mitch, we prefer to just stay home. and I'm totally going to crash when this weekend is over! now, onto this week's ten simple things...

001 :: getting a job (sort of). I know I said I couldn't work while mitch and I vacay on this island for 20 months, but I did find a small source of income whilst down here! it will be so nice to have something to do between laying by the pool and training for the seawheeze.

002 :: another vocal coach and her time. before this week, I had been training five or six teenagers basic vocal instruction. problem is, I'm really not the teaching sort because I just want to tell everyone how great they are, so it was so nice to have another set of ears there to help out. I am pretty grateful she took the time to come out and share what she knows.

003 :: fishtail braids. I have pretty much rocked one of these everyday this week as my life has been so consumed with this weekend's party, that I can't even think about my hair right now (that's right, I'm that obsessive girl this week). here's a great tutorial for this easy-yet-still-chic braid.

004 :: the omelette mitch made me on my way out the door. in the middle of block week. I know what you're thinking--I have the most amazing husband ever. and you'd be right.

005 :: only spending half my grocery budget this week. which was actually necessary since I spent almost twice my grocery budget last week. love it when things work out like that. 

006 :: this summer playlist via youtube. this dj really has it going on. that first song by tom odell can even get this non-morning-person out of bed before 7, which is quite a feat when that same non-morning-person could technically sleep all day if she wanted to.

007 :: getting back in touch with my crafty side. there is just something so invigorating about taking meaningless supplies and turning them into something fun and functional. if you're ever feeling low, go craft something. you'll feel so excellent about yourself afterward.

008 :: an hour's long conversation with my sweet and kind mother-in-law. I really don't get to talk to her enough, but it is always so refreshing to hear her ideas on life and get recipes from her kitchen (she is a darn good cook). so excited I will get to see her in less than a week!

009 :: this article on boosting productivity. I found it really enlightening and love that bit on happy people being the most productive people. just more inspiration to be happy. if you're haven't any trouble focusing, I definitely recommend taking a gander at it.

010:: the overwhelming feeling of gratitude towards my parents who prepared me for hard things. for the six years of voice and ten years of performance arts they (sometimes) had to drag me through. for my mom always being so crafty (I like to call her the original crafter because she was crafty before it was trendy). for the college education they paid for that taught me my reading, writing, and arithmetic. I know I took it all for granted at the time, but as I am getting older and wiser I realize how blessed I am for these gifts.

posts I loved this week ::

diy dad's day by pink pistachio

faux calligraphy by cupcakes & cashmere

pretty simple : 5-minute sunkissed skin by camille styles

seven months by the daybook

let's not forget to wish those wonderful guys in our lives a very happy father's day! hope you all have a great weekend. remember to stay hydrated. it's burning up pretty much everywhere!

love, arielle