I  took the day off yesterday because I needed a day to be inside myself, without working. I needed extra sleep and extra care.

So, I slept in. And when I got up, I cleaned and did chores around the house, put fresh sheets on the bed, bought new pillows, organized my room, hung summer clothes in the closet and put away the in-between clothes, went grocery shopping, and watched television (cooking shows and the Office, ironically). I bought a jewelry tree to organize my accessories. I hung up my magnetic makeup board. It felt good to take care of all these things and to largely disconnect from the internet. I didn’t pay attention to the news. I didn’t read blogs. I checked Twitter and Facebook sparingly.

At the end of the day, I felt relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to face the world again. There’s just  something about getting your physical space in order that leads to getting your mental space in order, as well. Sometimes taking a day off just to care for yourself can be just the thing you need.

Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

Lipstick stains on coffee cups. Gossip. Having really smart friends. Practicing gratitude. Wine tastings at Light of My Lantern Speakeasy, where I can get a good flush in the safety of great company. Lindt’s A Touch of Sea Salt dark chocolate bar. Getting outside in the fresh air and sunshine to plant green, growing things. Twitter DMs. Writing dates. Cherry blossoms. 3 Paths Toward a More Creative Life. Live music (in particular: Great Big Sea’s XX Anniversary Tour). sweetgreen’s spicy broccoli (delicious!). Principal fires security guards and hires art teachers – and transforms elementary school. Practicing not-so-random acts of kindness. John Cleese’s advice on making your life more creative (from 1991 – and it still holds up)! Discussions with friends that range from writing to reading to history to politics to philosophy to relationships and beyond. Finding a state of flow. Finally getting my tattoo finished. Reading this post on how to Be Open to Inspiration: concentrate on what’s right in front of you – and if you don’t like what’s in front of you, change it. Lifestyle, style, fashion, and design blogs. The beautiful and educational History of Typography (video). Burt’s Bees Honey & Grapeseed Hand Cream. This exercise in creativity from Nicole’s Classes. Finally finishing a DIY project I started a while ago. Seeing some of my favorite flowers in bloom on the way to work. Being Totally Honest. Beautiful green leaves on trees, providing dapples of shade throughout the city.

This quote: “You are imperfect, you are wired for struggle, but you are worthy of love and belonging.” ―Brené Brown

I am reminded of one of my all-time favorite quotes:

Be regular and orderly in your life, that you may be violent and original in your work. -Clive Barker

It is so often that artists credit their routines with inspiration for great art. It seems so simple, yet is often a challenge to stick to that basic schedule. In essence, not only do we have to plan to be inspired, but clear the time and space for it to happen.

When I find myself uninspired, I know it is time to make energy move. It’s time to clean up, clean out, organize, and simplify. That time is now.

 Love A La Carte features all the little things that make my life just a little more delicious.

The LIzzie Bennet Diaries (a modern take on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice told through video blogs on YouTube) ♥  This song, which features samples from both Billie Jean AND Under Pressure. Go listen. NOW. ♥ Daria. ♥ Dove’s new Photoshop action: promoting self-esteem everywhere. ♥ Parents doing amazing things for their kids: Parents and Transgendered 6 Year-Old Battle Her Colorado Elementary School and Awesome Dad Hacks Video Game For Daughter So Pauline Saves Mario! ♥ Some advice on how to combat creative blocks.♥ My Mad Fat Diary, the (6 episode) story of Rae, a music-obsessed 16-year-old in the 1990s who deals with eating disorders and mental illness, as well as everything else that goes on in the life of a teenager. (It’s beautifully done. I can’t say enough good things about it.) ♥ The iced hazelnut latte from The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. ♥ A mini-vacation to Arizona for the wedding of one of my oldest friends. ♥ Squeezing in a visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens while in Phoenix. ♥ Spending time with my mum and dad. ♥ Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti, the sequel to Brownies and Broomsticks, by Bailey Cates. ♥

This quote: “You don’t have to get a job that makes others feel comfortable about what they perceive as your success. You don’t have to explain what you plan to do with your life. You don’t have to justify your education by demonstrating its financial rewards. You don’t have to maintain an impeccable credit score. Anyone who expects you to do any of those things has no sense of history or economics or science or the arts. – You have to pay your electric bill. You have to be kind. You have to give it all you got. You have to find people who love you truly and love them back with the same truth. But that’s all.” -Cheryl Strayed

In essence, I am working with contributors to our site to review and publish content on a daily basis, as well as working with my team to train people on how to use the content management system. Aspects of the job include Web maintenance, outreach and support, and development. There’s a lot to learn, but I’m excited. It’s a challenge, but also an adventure.

I am grateful for everything that’s happened and everything that it’s taken to get here. The more you appreciate what you have, the better the opportunities that come along. When you rid your life of the extraneous, the frivolous, and the unnecessary, you make room for the amazing and unexpected!

I haven’t done one of these in far too long and I have so many things to be grateful for, so many wonderful things happening in my life, so much good stuff to share:

Watching the Oscars and making snacks with my roommate, fangirling just about everyone there – especially Jennifer Lawrence, and staying up way too late to watch the cast of Les Mis perform an amazing medley of songs. ♥ Having amazing friends and family who believe in me. ♥ The wonderful, natural snacks from graze.com, a subscription box for healthy stuff delivered to your home or office once a week. ♥ Revisiting the Warblers album from Glee. ♥ Shopping trips, facial massages, and Thai food with a good friend. ♥ Finding gluten-free foods and making some at home, too.  ♥ Fandom collisions. ♥ Discovering new blogs to follow. Who are some of your favorites? ♥ The smell of fresh, ripe tomatoes. ♥ Having justalittle expendable cash. ♥ Bath bombs from Lush, in particular the Sakura one, which smells like heavenly cherry blossoms on a warm breeze. ♥ Getting Valentine’s in the mail from some awesome ladies. ♥ Train. ♥  Communities on Facebook. In particular, a make-up and beauty one I now belong to. So much fun. So bad for my wallet. ♥ Making homemade meatballs to have with gluten-free spaghetti. One of my favorite comfort foods. ♥ Horoscopes that are spot-on. ♥ Fresh flowers. ♥ This breathtaking view of the DC area from space. ♥ The beautiful fairy tale-inspired Glamourkins at the Fable Tribe. ♥ The Princess Bride Ipsum generator: asyouwishipsum.com ♥ Getting a little tax return. ♥ Staying up way too late on Friday night to spend time with friends and waking up late on Saturday since I have nowhere to be. ♥ New glasses from Warby Parker. ♥ Getting my dental work all taken care-of. ♥ 5% off coupons for a whole day of shopping at Target. ♥ Chocolate. ♥

I recently read the book Wheat Belly and have decided to cut wheat out of my diet. Did you know that two slices of whole wheat bread can spike your blood sugar more than a candy bar? Wheat can be more addictive than high-fructose corn syrup. On average, people who eat no wheat eat about 400 calories less per day than those who do eat wheat.

So, I’ve decided to give eliminating wheat a try. My hope is that, in addition to losing some weight, I will no longer feel as sluggish, will have more energy, and just feel better overall. I’m hopeful, since the first week I eliminated wheat from my diet, I lost two pounds. I am hoping to continue losing weight and feeling more energetic. I am experiencing less need to snack and feeling full, but not stuffed after meals.

Have you ever eliminated wheat from you diet? What effects did you experience? Were you able to keep it up long-term?

I hope this will be a lifestyle change for me. I invested in the Wheat Belly Cookbook and bought ingredients to try out these soft and chewy gluten-free chocolate chip cookies. Don’t they look amazing?

Thank you [.]

in being grateful every day.

in celebrating life as often as possible.

imperfection is more interesting than perfection.

in sharing joy.

laughter is the best medicine.

the process should be as enjoyable as the result.

life loves you back.

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I’m thinking a lot about creating content and what kind of presence I want to have here. I feel a change coming, but I’m not exactly sure what that change is. What would you like to see? Any posts in particular strike your fancy? What would you like to read about? Feel free to leave comments!