Wired for More

I'm feeling very behind on life right about now. It's December 1st, but might as well be January for all I know. I realized how behind I am when I discovered yesterday that the future queen is pregnant. Seriously, how did I miss such a thing?? I guess it's not "official" yet, but I'm thoroughly convinced 99% of celebrity gossip is true. Am I right?

Anyways. I'm someone who thrives on routine and I've had little to none of that for who knows how long. I feel like I live life searching for this thing I used to have, but can't actually remember having. I say I love routine, but how often do I actually have it? I think I may need to start working on living well without a routine because this whole "no time to clean, eat well, work hard, workout, spend time with friends, have a life, go to the grocery store, blog, and discover the secret to life" thing is just not working out for me these days. At this point inconsistency is the most consistent thing in my life.

I want so badly to have time and space to do things I want to do. I want to craft, bake, cook, pack my lunch, meet friends for coffee, look at Christmas lights, enjoy the season, make my bed, send advent calendars before the 1st of December, hang my clothes, and finish laundry, but apparently that's all easier said than done. And I can tell laziness is not a factor considering I can't keep up with t.v., blogs, news, or even twitter. Life moves at such a fast pace these days I simply can't keep up. To be honest, I don't think I even really want to keep up.

The thing is, I know this isn't just a "me" thing. I know everyone feels this way at times, probably more often than not. Is it a California thing? A generational thing? What is it that makes us go, go, go, and think more, more more, and want more, more more, and keep going until we burn out but never feel satisfied? There are so many things I want more of, and so many things I want that I don't have. I am pretty sure this is (unfortunately) how we are wired straight out of the womb. It's as if those ultrasound machines are not just taking pictures of us in there, it's like they are sending message to us saying, "enjoy the time while you have it, 'cuz you're never going to have this peace and quiet again."

I want more but at the same time I don't. Along with my other New Year's Resolutions of watching the news and being more informed (oops), 2011 was supposed to be the year I tried to be content. Each year, since only a few years ago, I've chosen a word or two that I wanted to be the theme of my year. Last year was "peace and joy". This year, contentment. With all that life throws us, and all that it keeps from us, my goal for this year was to be content with what I already have. I want to see the blessings in each day, even through trials. I want to be a grateful person, satisfied by what incredible gifts I have already been given.

Seeing the blessings is easier than I thought it would be, but not wanting more of them is the hard part. Blessings are like free gifts...they are pretty darn awesome when you get them, you don't usually expect them, and no matter how small they are, free is always good. However, you also don't generally seek after free gifts. Free gifts are given because someone wants to give them to you. You can't expect them, but you best appreciate when you get them!!

In the busyness of today, my goal is to appreciate what I have, not worrying about the time, money, or life that I don't. Who really cares if my bed goes unmade? Who cares if my laundry is still sitting in the dryer? Why do advent calendars have to start on December 1st anyways? Silly traditions. I've got a month left to work on this whole "contentment" thing. Of course I'll continue to work on it in the new year, but in these last 31 days of 2011 my hope is to stay totally focused on it (eek!). They say habits take 3 weeks to form. I've been working on contentment for about 48 weeks now, maybe it'll finally stick in the last 4.

What was your goal(s) for 2011? 


What will your goal(s) be for 2012? 

If you don't have anything nice to say....

You know that saying, "if you don't have anything nice to say then don't say anything at all"? Well, I think I took the phrase to a new level this past weekend. I've been quite a grump lately and although I'm not sure if others noticed or not, I figured I would save them my bad attitude and hibernate for the weekend. I made sure to be present at the things I was expected to be at, but beyond that I was pretty checked out from reality. Humanity-you can thank me later.

I also hibernated a bit from blogging. I kept up with the usual blogs I follow like this one, this one, and this one, but stayed clear from my own. Like I said, I've been a bit of a grump lately and didn't really have anything nice to say. I took this weekend as my opportunity to have a pit of a pity party, an introvert party, and a "it's time to move on party." Overall it was a good weekend, one I think everyone needs to have sometimes.

Because I didn't share anything with you this weekend, the next few pictures will give you some insight into how I spent my time. Don't get too excited. Unless you were also having a pity party and totally checked out from reality, or if by chance you are my secret stalker, then you will probably be bored to death by the following photos. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Weekend highlight: NO work on Christmas!

The Goods

Sometimes I pretend I live on Little house on the Prairie 

Girl Porn (Note: also downloaded Instagram at this point)

Magazine shopping--must have!

Too good to not text, tweet, or blog for the world to see.
Burly Beards 

And to get back to reality...Thansgiving with friends! Starting last year a group of friends and I have planned and celebrated Thansgiving together (i.e. Thanksgiving). Mondays are typically a dreadful day for most of humanity, but today I had something to look forward to. After secluding myself from the world it was good to be back with friends laughing, eating, mocking each other, and just being. I finally feel human again. You're welcome humanity.

Side Note: 
Can I just say, the beauty of "The Anthropology of a Girl" is that in reality I can blog about whatever I want because by default, anything I write about and anything that happens in my life, has something to do with being a girl. If "anthropology" is the study of something, then every photo I post, word I write, or story I tell reveals just a little more about what it means to be a girl. Part of me wishes every post I write was strategic, calculated, organized, and full of purpose, but that's just not my life right now. THIS is my life. THIS is what it means to be a girl. 

Call Me Kate Middleton

I took a nap today and now I am regretting it. I knew I would, but the fluff that is my marshmallowy bed beckoned my name. I simply could not resist.

But now, here I am with a pretty epic nap-hangover. My eyes are strained and I feel like I have been sick in bed with a cold for days (I haven't). Basically I feel like I need a shower, a fresh pair of undies, and  a new day, but the caffeine-like buzz I'm running on from my afternoon power nap is seriously effecting my game. No sleep for me...yet.

Any-who, this blog is definitely in the works and at it's very most basic stage. However, good stuff is to come. To my followers, tell mom I said "hi". Also, thanks for your input on the layout that's in process. I'm excited to get things up at running in the very near future. I have this thing where I don't like to share things with people until they are complete and at their very best state. Art projects, my home, papers, blogs. I guess you could say I am a perfectionist, therefore I don't like revealing things about myself to anyone that are less than perfect. I suppose "perfect" is relative, but for me I want to be proud of something I am sharing with others.

Anyways, posts are on their way. Ideas are slowly getting sifted out. I'm excited for the potential of a blog that could be something. I have no idea what, but there's always hope, right? That's what I'm banking on anyways. Oh yes, and my delectable sense of humor, charm, wit, and wisdom. That's me in a nutshell I tell ya.

Whelp, I guess that's the end of my charm and wit for tonight. Call me Kate Middleton and let's call it a night.

AE