JOY to the world

Yes, the title is meant to be said in Clark W. Griswold fashion.

It's nearly mid-December and there's so darn much to be joyful about. Even though I had a nose bleed from the severely dry weather last night and this morning accidentally dropped my $50 Urban Decay eyeshadow palette in the toilet. For example, things that currently make be bust at the seams with j-o-y are:

1) reading this book

 2) spotting fur coats on my wintry outings

3) not seeing (as many) weird looks when you wear sequins during the day

 

4) the fact that Christmas is nearly upon us...

 5) ...which reminds me of this.. and there you have it -- JOYful.

Happy Friday

Maybe it's the ice storm outside, or maybe it's my love affair with metallic polka dots and Taylor Sterling, or maybe it's just plain old procrastination of me not wanting to transcribe interviews from this week and proof and rewrite drafts. Whatever the reason, I find myself currently lost in a whimsical daydream of sparkles, sequins and pastel-colored furs. I can also blame New Years and the rapidly-approaching holiday rush, but honestly I think it's just where my mind settles lately.

As a result of pondering the question of my last post, I made a trip to good ole Barnes and Noble to focus my wandering mind. What I stumbled upon is a happy blessing I'm excited to share. 

I made four purchases: a hot pink "inspiration/mood board" book, a black and gold prayer journal, a gold metallic 2014 planner, and a book on entrepreneurship (specifically how the founders of the shopping site Gilt turned their passion and knowledge into a wildly successful business).

There is a method to my madness (aside from the fabulous color palettes I was able to find). I've been feeling a bit restless as of late, and wanted to stop dreaming and start doing. The prayer journal is specifically for my career goals and aspirations. It reminds me to pray about the wanderings of my mind  as much as (or more than) I talk about them (which lately has been a lot). The inspiration book is already filling up with clippings from magazines and quotes and tidbits that send my mind off in a million directions. It's a mood board of sorts that allows me to feel like I have a creative outlet aside form my writing and 9 to 5 job. The calendar is (duh) to make order of my hectic schedule, and the book, By Invitation Only, is already challenging and teaching me in ways only a business degree sprinkled with fairy dust would.

I'm sure this isn't the last of these ideas I'll share, but I'm excited to focus my scatterbrained-self into realizing what exactly I want out of my degree in journalism and what possibilities might be around the corner, praying about it every step of the way.

Stay safe if you're out and about in Memphis today,

 and as always, Happy Friday!

*photos courtesy of Pinterest and myself.