Wednesday Wisdom: Correct Your Mind

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Self doubt. Fear. Depression. Anxiety. My mind is my biggest enemy.

The past few months I have been losing my battle against clinical depression. Part of it is the time of year (winter is rough), and part of it is where I'm at in my life. In an effort to get back on track, I finally took a bold leap and made an appointment to see a therapist.

I'm a strong believer in the benefits and importance of therapy but it can be very hard to help yourself, to admit that maybe you can't handle things on your own. Even though I've seen my fair share of therapists in my lifetime, it was still scary walking into a stranger's office and sharing my story, to begin to reveal my deepest issues and fears. However, finally choosing to do therapy again has also felt very liberating.

Therapy will help me regain my ability to manage my depression. I firmly believe that. I deserve to feel engaged in my own life. That's what I want the most.

Weekend Happenings...

This weekend I spent a little too much time having fun and eating good food rather than doing my homework. Oops! 

After work Friday night I went running with Tasha (Day 3 of C25K!). On my way home I stopped at TJ Maxx where I found a fabulous, sophisticated bedding set. I wasn't sure if I could afford to buy it, plus I wanted a night to sleep on the decision, so I decided to hold off on my purchase. I crunched the numbers and to my delight, new bedding fit into my budget! 

Saturday I returned to make my purchase. For $98 I got a new comforter, two pillow shams, and three throw pillows. I was very pleased. Harper, on the other hand, wasn't too thrilled about the new bedding. Whenever I actually make my bed she tries to be mommy's little helper and consequently, gets banished to her chair. 

In other weekend adventures I finally made the tomato basil soup recipe my mom told me about from Pinterest. So good! The soup has orzzo and Greek yogurt in it, which makes for a unique texture and flavor. Irish and I also tried a new place for brunch, Meli Cafe. The banana caramel pancakes were definitely worth the hour-long wait.

Two great weekends in a row. I'll take it.

P.S. Happy 176th Birthday Chicago!

New York State of Mind

images from story links below

One incredible story about the makings of a family. Another that gives a name to a cultural phenomenon. And lastly, an in-depth study that offers an explanation for why Cheetos are so addictive. Enjoy!

We Found Our Son in the Subway by Peter Mercurio, The New York Times
"We weren’t supposed to be there, two men, with a son we had never dreamed of by our side, getting married by a woman who changed and enriched our lives more than she would ever know."

Creating Hipsturbia in the Suburbs by Alex Williams, The New York Times
"These days, young creatives are fleeing a city that has become too affluent...Welcome to Hipsturbia."

The Extraordinary Science of Junk Food by Michael Moss, The New York Times Magazine
“There’s no moral issue for me,” he said. “I did the best science I could. I was struggling to survive and didn’t have the luxury of being a moral creature. As a researcher, I was ahead of my time.”

Music Musings: Elenowen

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A few weeks ago I discovered Elenowen, a husband-wife musical duo. I can't get enough of their smooth, folksy sound and poignant, deep lyrics. This is my kind of music--Indie soul. Is that a real term? Probably not.

"The singular power of Elenowen comes from the bond that can only exist between two people who’ve known – and loved – each other for most of their lives." quote via their Facebook page  

My favorite song is "Flying for the First Time". I constantly find myself humming it throughout the day. I love how the lyrics convey the complicated mix of strength, vulnerability, and fear we experience in life.

Since my discovery of Spotify I don't buy a lot of music, but I snatched up Elenowen's EP album without hesitation.  Check out the music video and lyric video below. Amazing.

Run - Music Video



Head to My Heart - Lyric Video

Wednesday Wisdom: Ask

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It's hard to ask for what you need. I'm not very good at it. Often times I'm willing to give a lot to another person but assume that someone will not do the same for me. That I'm not worth it.  Why would someone want to help me?

I think being able to ask for what you need is a great sign of strength and self-worth. We all deserved to be listened to but you have to speak; otherwise, people won't know how to help you. My aunt has always encouraged me to share my needs with the people I know and love. She reminds me that people aren't mind readers and we have to be vulnerable to progress.

Ask for what you need. Give people the opportunity to say "yes" instead of automatically assuming "no". Open yourself to the realm of possibility.

Bottom line...listen to Oprah and my aunt on this one. They're right.

The Oscars

Sunday evening I accompanied my dear friend Irish to an Oscars viewing party at Rockit Bar & Grill, hosted by Michigan Avenue magazine. Irish is interning for Michigan Avenue right now and asked if I'd be her plus one. Naturally, I said yes.

We navigated the altered red line route and arrived right on time. Rockit has an urban, rustic feel accented by rich, dark wood and antler chandeliers. Upstairs in the lounge, flat screen TVs lined the perimeter. Mini Oscars statues graced the tables and booths. One may or may not have come home with me.

Irish introduced me to her coworkers and found a quiet back wall to people watch and down the delicious appetizers brought out by waitresses in tight black t-shirts. Slider cheeseburgers, truffle fries, crispy shrimp salad. We tried everything. No shame.

Famous film critic Richard Roeper hosted the event with Billy Dec, Rockit's owner and CEO. Twitter was a big part of the night's festivities promoted by the hashtag #rockitoscars. I took to the twittersphere and was re-tweeted by Rockit a few times. Kinda cool.

I wore kitten heels and my feet were killing me after less than two hours. I don't know how the stars do it. I read on Twitter that the first thing Adele did when she walked off stage after singing Skyfall was kickoff her stilettos. My kind of girl.

While we enjoyed the event, Irish and I aren't big party girls or late-nighters. After a few hours we headed back to her apartment, grabbed Cheetos and ice cream at the 7-Eleven, and watched the rest of the Oscars from the comfort of her bedroom.

Oscars Highlights: So happy Jennifer Lawrence won. Could she be more adorable? Anne Hathaway's first dress was HORRIBLE but I'm happy she won Best Supporting Actress. Adele rocked it. Loved the Les Miserables performance. I definitely need to see Life of Pi, Argo, Lincoln, and Silver Linings Playbook.

P.S. I love the red carpet. In my online perusing I stumbled upon this awesome project by The New York Times. Check it out!

Jennifer Lawrence image / Oscars logo image

Thank you, Honest Abe

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The final hours of President's Day are fading away but I didn't want to pass up this opportunity to give a shout out to Honest Abe. I've always felt a special connection to Lincoln. Genealogically speaking he is my cousin. We are related to him through his mother's line, the Hanks.

Growing up I was obsessed with history, particularly the Civil War period. In second grade when it came time for each of us to do a report on an American president, guess who I chose? In fact, my teacher saved Lincoln especially for me because she knew how upset I'd be if I didn't get to research and write about him. I was quite proud of my presidential lineage and never missed an opportunity to inform a classmate.

Going to Washington D.C. when I was seven-years-old made me more happy and exuberant than a trip to Disneyland. That's how passionate I felt about Lincoln and American history. My adoration for the man continues today.

Thank you, Honest Abe for showing our country what it means to be a leader. Thank you for having the courage to fear God more than man. Thank you for doing your duty no matter the cost.

Happy President's Day!