Top Ten Tuesday: Confessions

Top Ten Mildly Embarrassing Confessions (at time of press)
10. I watched an hour of Full House yesterday morning.
9. My favorite PJ pants are gray, and all of my softest t-shirts are gray - so I often end up sleeping in a gray onesie. Bonus points if it's cold enough for one of the gray sweatshirts. I need some color.
8. This weather gives me super-dry skin. And I super-hate lotion. I apologize for my crackly hands.
7. I have had bizarre nightmares every night since I got back from Christmas break. Topics have included non-existant Breaking Bad spin-offs, kidnappings, 30 Rock characters, and being abandoned by my best friends in a shady neighborhood. And a bunch of other things I should've written down.
6. The power went out in part of my house on Friday night and I couldn't find the fuse box, even though I searched every room in my apartment and in the hallway. I didn't find it till Saturday afternoon. The fuse box is literally visible from my door.
5. If I start a page of notes in class and I don't like my handwriting, I'll toss it and start a new page.
4. I spent too much money on food storage containers last week.
3. I crave soda, drink soda, and immediately regret it because it makes my throat all gurgly.
2. Confession 3.c happens because I am physically incapable of burping.
1. On more than one occasion this month, I have found myself awake in the middle of the night and proceeded to eat something sweet (ex. donut or muffin) on my couch, drink a glass of milk, and go right back to sleep. Basically the night is a very strange time for me.

Reside: Against the Norm

If you've known me for a while, you know that I'm organized. I like schedules and lists, especially if they are color-coded. I like routine. 
Well, the past few months have challenged that, and I'm finally starting to see the good in the challenge.
All through school - elementary, middle, high, undergrad - there was a schedule. Even last year working in Res Life at Point I had a schedule. But then I re-entered the world of Milligan Res Life combined with graduate school. And it was weird.
Don't for one second misunderstand me. I love where I am and all I have. 
What's been weird is my striving toward routine again. Toward "normalcy" - whatever that is. And what God taught me in a conversation I had earlier this week is that normalcy ought not to be my goal. Living effectively should be my goal, whether or not I go about it in a "normal" fashion.
When I say normal, I'm mostly referring to a schedule. I imagine that a Normal Day in the life of a Normal Person in the Work Force goes a little something like this: awake by 7AM, at work by 8AM, lunch break at noon, home by 5PM, dinner, relaxing, maybe an evening commitment here or there, and to bed at a reasonable hour.
My day went like this: awake at 10AM, breakfast-slash-lunch, a shower, working my house-cleaning job from 1 to 2PM, staff meeting at 3:30PM, an hour at the library, grabbing dinner before class from 5:30 until 9:15, then an hour at my friends' house for our weekly TV show, and finishing up yoga at midnight. I'll be up for another hour or so as I get ready for bed and do some reading. 
It feels weird. I struggle because I have what seems to be a lot of downtime. "You get to sleep in until 10 some days during the week?" I feel like I could be labeled as lazy, or maybe I just do it to myself. Yes, some days I don't get up until 10, but those are after the nights when I was up until 1 or 2 because so much of my life happens in the evening. I sometimes beat myself up because my day-to-day doesn't resemble that of other people my age working "normal" jobs.
But what God is showing me is that He has not prescribed a schedule. He has not demanded an order in which I do things. He has not given me a bedtime. He has only blessed me with work to do. He demands things of me, yes. He demands that I do my jobs well, that I work hard in school, that I seek Him. But He also commands me to take care of myself, to rest, to laugh. He has given me a to-do list and I have to decide when to get things done.
To my friends living the "normal" life, know that I envy you some days. Take advantage of it and see that work and that structure as a blessing - and fill your free hours with things that give you life and further the Kingdom.
To my fellow graduate students and friends working the odd hours, let's embrace it. I have a feeling that I am not alone in my feelings of awkwardness at the structure of my day-to-day life right now. I'm 23 - I'm supposed to be an adult, right? Well, it's time to banish the "supposed to's" and the preconceived, American-dream pictures of adulthood and success. 
Praise God for where He has you. Right now. And live in it.

Top Ten Tuesday: Obsessions

Good evening, friends!
I hope everyone had a wonderful 3-day weekend! I know I did! I spent my day off in Knoxville with my sister and aunt. I got to experience the magic of Puppy Zone for the first time!

I named this little guy Hawthorne.
I hope your day off was great, even if you didn't get to enjoy the company of adorable puppies.
But now, welcome to Top Ten Tuesday!


Top Ten Things I'm Obsessed with Right Now
10. Breaking Bad. I finished the series but I can't stop thinking about it.

9. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul. See #10.
8. Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. I was skeptical because I have acne-prone skin and this doesn't contain medication, but it has proven to be excellent! I use it at night - it even removes eye makeup.
7. Good Grips food storage containers. Google them. I've bought three in the past week.
6. The Blacklist. The first drama series that I have watched from the beginning. Amazing.
5. Frozen. The best Disney movie of the past few years. If you haven't seen it, you haven't lived. And if you don't know all the words to "In Summer" you should listen to it on repeat immediately.
4. Awards Shows. Always, but especially now since we're in the middle of Awards season. Golden Globes, check. SAG Awards, check. Oscars, let's go.
3. My kitchen. Christmas resulted in a bunch of new kitchen supplies, and I can't stop using them!
2. DoYogaWithMe.com. I'm getting back in the yoga game, and this site is amazing! Tons of free videos.
1. This blog. Duh :)

Reside: My Favorite Places

This is Reside and every so often I want to focus on the idea of home. Home means different things to different people at different times. Today, home for me means my literal residence, but lovely cozy apartment connected to the residence hall that I manage. I've been back from winter break for a week and a half and I have finally settled back in and rearranged the place to my liking. I wanted to share some of my favorite spaces with you!
The Coat Rack

Depending on which entrance you use, this is likely your first encounter. I love having a place for all of my coats and scarves - and my new bag, that I am in love with. A coat rack just says, "Hang up your things and stay a while."

The Living Room Tables

My living room is pretty sparse these days. I'm waiting for a chair to fill up the empty space, and I need some more wall decor. But I keep a few simple things on the tables that I enjoy. I have my candy cup that I made out of a peanut canister and some old book pages, one of my prouder crafting accomplishments, and my Real Simple magazine stack. It's the best magazine.

The Kitchen

I love my kitchen. I love cooking. And eating. And I love kitchen-y things. That adorable thing on the left is the stack of hedgehog measuring cups that my dear friends Nickie and Justin got me for Christmas. The right is my new island that my parents got me. 

The Stacks

I have a bookcase filled to the brim and an ongoing stack by my bed.

The Workspace

I have an extra room that serves as a bit of an office. One side is dedicated to fun projects, one side to work.

My Room

I try to keep my room simple as well, since it's where the rest happens. I have the handmade calendar from Lauren, my favorite candle, and color-coded closet. I won't apologize for it.

I love home. You are welcome any time.

Things We Learned at the Memorial

As many of you know, almost two weeks ago, we suddenly and unexpectedly lost my granddaddy. He had been battling some minor illnesses for a few years, but his death was a shock to our whole family. 
In the days since, I have experienced and learned so much. My mind and body are exhausted, and I can only begin to imagine what my nana, dad and his siblings are feeling. We have just come out of a week of arrangements and decisions, visiting with friends and loved ones, crying, laughing, and sharing memories. 
No short blog post is adequate in times like this. But I wanted to share with you a few of the things that I have learned in this time.
1. There are so many things that I don't know about my family. Like the real first names of my nana and several aunts. I'll be asking more questions. 
2. Baby Corri said a lot of hilarious things. For example, "I've tried water twice! One with ice and once without."
3. I did not inherit my granddad's math skills, but I did inherit his love of crossword puzzles. I've done about 100 this week.
4. My nana is the strongest, most godly woman I will ever know.
5. Speaking at a funeral is one of the hardest things in the world. But also one of the most precious.

My granddaddy was a great man, loved by so many. And I am so thankful that I'll be seeing him again someday.