"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, worn, or consumed. Happiness is living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude."
It's the last day of May which means it's time for my monthly edit. I could tell you how fast time flies, how I can't believe another month has come and gone, blah blah blah. Instead, I'll simply say that May was emotionally draining for me and I'm glad that it's over. I'm not entirely sure what the deal was, but my mood was just off and no matter how hard I tried to get out from underneath the clouds, I couldn't shake the feeling. It happens. Sometimes you need to embrace the blues, as long as you know that they won't last forever.
May is mental health awareness month, and I took more time than normal to reflect, talk with friends, read, and write down the things I'm grateful for. These are all things I should be doing on a regular basis, but like most people, I get complacent. I've learned that it's actually in times when I feel the worst and am at my most vulnerable that real growth occurs. The word gratitude has been popping up constantly in my head, especially when I turn on the news and see what real tragedy is and just how difficult circumstances are for so many people. Simply acknowledging all the good in my life has alleviated some of the negative feelings, and I'm hoping that June is much better mentally.
Wearing:
Anyway, onto some frivolous news (which is why you're here): This month, I went back and forth between jeans and jackets to dresses and kimonos. The weather was bi-polar so my outfit choices were as well. One thing I was very excited about though was
my new Madewell tote. I've carried it for a few days now and I couldn't be happier with it!
Watching: Momentum Generation, a documentary that came out last year about a group of America's surfers in the 90's. I grew up watching some of these guys like Kelly Slater and Rob Machado. Even if you aren't into surfing, this documentary is moving and powerful. It will inspire you.
Looking forward to: Our road trip with friends is at the end of June leading into July. We've planned this for months. We are traveling through Utah and staying outside of Bryce Canyon, eventually ending in Wyoming. Lots of stops along the way! The open road with friends is JUST what I've been craving.
Things I liked in May:
I'm really impressed with all of the new beauty items I bought this month! I'm doing a complete round-up and review next week. The only problem is, I want more...
I got the chance to meet my friend's baby boy this past Saturday and he's so sweet. My friend and her family moved to Long Beach a couple years ago and I don't get to visit with her as often.
Things I didn't like in May:
Elephant poaching:
I follow a journalist on Twitter, Yashar Ali. His passion for elephants and bringing awareness to their endangered status around the world is amazing, but many of his articles and tweets break my heart. "The Government of Botswana is covering up a significant elephant poaching outbreak because they don't want it to impact tourism." Botswana is lifting its ban on elephant hunting. Many countries are following suit.
Nettie's paw: Our dog has skin allergies related to the climate here, and her front right paw has been red, itchy, and swollen. We thought it was an allergy flareup. We took her to the vet three times before they finally found a foxtail lodged in her poor little paw. She's on antibiotics and she'll be fine, but we are much more careful with where we walk her now and no more going off-leash on hikes.
How was your month? I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
