I'm tired. Here's what's on my mind today:

Let's talk about this over coffee and chocolate chip cookie. Photo taken on the ferry.

One of my favorite bloggers, Sydney over at the Daybook, once in awhile goes through a list of words and puts a little comment by each. I like that idea, so below are a bunch of words and the thought that came to mind when I read the word. The fun in it is that the exercise reveals something a little different every time it's done. But anyway, here ya go:

Making: an effort to look at my environment more and in a different way.
Cooking: stir fry is my new thing and it's delicious if I say so myself.
Drinking: lots of water. I'm trying to drink 3 liters of water everyday, which if  you haven't tried it, is a ton and hard to do.
Reading: Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman. I recently watched the movie for the first time, and the two are so different. Alice Hoffman wrote my favorite book (The Dovekeepers), so I had to read another.
Wanting: to get a job that I love.
Looking: at my future and wondering what it holds. Things seem so unresolved and unknown right now.
Playing: with the idea of staying in Seattle.
Wasting: time. I shouldn't be procrastinating, but it's so ingrained in my nature.
Sewing: words together into poetry. Well, trying to write more anyway.
Wishing: the intentions I've been sending were manifesting.
Enjoying: the beautiful sunny, spring weather. Today someone was actually mowing their lawn.
Waiting: ...
Liking: that tomorrow I can work from my bed.
Wondering: how different my life would be if I didn't require sleep.
Loving: the music that's been playing on Spotify (Benjamin Fracis Leftwich-Stole You Away, The Head and the Heart-Rivers and Roads, Elliott Smith-Between the Bars)
Hoping: the dinner I'm going to make for my roommate is going to turn out (her internship is over and she's leaving me *sad face*)
Marveling: at how fast time flies.
Needing: soulful conversation.
Smelling: the shampoo/conditioner from my wet hair.
Wearing: pajamas (stretchy pants and the Shelby t-shirt I got in 5th grade when I went to Greenfield Village with my class).
Giggling: is something I haven't genuinely done in awhile.
Following: dirt trails in the forest is exhilarating.
Bookmarking:  this because it's too darn cute and this because I can't resist poetry.
Opening: a store of my own creeps into my mind a lot.

Lovin' the sun

I'm not sure how to say this without bragging, but Washington has had perfect weather the last few days - warm, sunny, and blue skies. Back home in Michigan, from what I hear, the snow has been debilitating. The Oceana County Sheriff's Department has been repeatedly urging people to stay off the roads and use caution when braving the storm. A deputy even had to abandon his police cruiser in the extremely cold conditions after being stranded for 7 hours. 

Here on Bainbridge, spring has sprung. There have been a few conversations over lunch at YES! about how warm this winter has been. Usually, Bainbridge gets at least a little bit of snow, but this year, we've only been dusted once. Although I can't complain, I wonder how it will affect the crops and if this will have consequences. Nonetheless, I'm going to enjoy the sunshine.

The last few weekends, I've taken a stroll down to Eagle Harbor and sat on the driftwood watching the ferry dock and depart. With the shore being very rocky, it's better to just sit and listen to the water slosh up rather than brave walking on the slippery stones. I've done it, and it's not as fun as walking on the smooth, sandy shoreline of Lake Michigan.

The flowers are blooming on the island.

Look at all those rocks. Very hard to walk on them.

Glass bottle on shore.

Eagle Harbor

My dad keeps asking if I've gotten any pictures of the mountains. Here's a pic of the ferry coming back from Seattle and the mountains in the background.

Vows to my future partner + Valentine's Day shenanigans

Isn't this raspberry chocolate ladybug truffle from Bon Bon the cutest? It even has spots in the shape of hearts. 

"I vow to always hand-write you a Valentine's letter to explain how much I love you. I vow to set the alarm 15 minutes early every morning so we have time to cuddle before getting ready for work."

As I laid in my bed last night thinking about love (because of Valentine's Day, of course), I started to ramble off promises I wanted to make with my future partner - the whole time replaying the scene from The Vow, and envisioning a "perfect" relationship where you can be goofy, serious, loving, 100 percent yourself and know your partner still cherishes you.

You see, that's the type of relationship I want. That's the type of relationship I've had and the type of relationship I hope to experience again. Although I'm single this Feb. 14th, I am not wallowing. I am so grateful for the people in my life. I'm not sad that I don't have a Valentine because I can feel it in my bones that my partner will come to me when the time is right. It might be someone already in my life, or it might be someone I've yet to meet, but my heart flutters at the thought that I will someday spend this day with my other half (I know, I know, ahh the gush). And I refuse to be one of those desperate lovers who settles - and I'd suggest you not be that person either because life is too short.

This morning I grabbed toast from Blackbird Bakery and in the display case sat homemade X & O cookies for lovebirds on the island. Right then I realized that this year I had not felt so turned off to Valentine's Day. Here on Bainbridge Island, I am hardly bombarded by consumerism. Almost all the businesses here are locally-owned, meaning I haven't encountered aisles and aisles of v-day exploitation. This, I think, has made me more aware of my feelings toward the holiday: that it should be more rooted in love than generic gifts.

Many feel obligated to get their honey a box of chocolates or a bouquet of red roses, but just because commercials and society say that's how it should be, doesn't mean we shouldn't challenge that thinking. My roommate works at Bon Bon, the local candy shop in Winslow, and we all know that the store is going to be packed today with desperate customers asking what they should get their significant other. Hint: not some last minute, random piece of chocolate.

You see, it's not about the present. To me, Valentine's Day is about cherishing the person you love, your partner. I watched this beautiful video (and then couldn't help watching the whole series), which asked couples how they would describe their feelings for their partner without using the word "love." It's so easy to say you love someone, but describing why can deepen those feelings and reveal just how much you care. In my opinion, telling your Valentine why or how you love them could truly be the best gift you give them.

So maybe open yourself up to alternative ways to celebrate your love this Valentine's Day. Write down all the things that you love about your significant other. Hug them a little tighter, and kiss them a little longer. Give them a true compliment about their character. Put a song on and slow dance to it. Hold their hand. Tell them one of your favorite memories together. Make dinner together. Do something for your partner just because you know it will make them happy. Show them how much you care because when it truly comes down to it, the little things are what count, not the material items.

It's always nice to know that my parents are thinking about me. They sent me a countdown to Valentine's Day box. I was instructed to open one bag a day until the 14th. My parents definitely know me well because today I opened Dove dark chocolates and strawberry Peeps (my fav), but I especially liked the personalized messages they printed & pasted on the box.

I walked into the YES! office on Friday and at every desk was a red tulip, Red Hots in the shape of hearts, and a chocolate heart. It definitely brightened my day and put me in the Valentine's spirit.

Although I'm not a fan of consuming these candy hearts, they sure are a cute decoration in the YES! office.

Tulip from work #ValentinesDaySelfie