not an empire builder? that's ok.

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i recently read an article in glamour magazine written by actress zosia mamet. in the article she explains how our culture is particularly obsessed with "making it" and how if you "settle" for anything less you're somehow a failure. the article was written particularly for women, and i can only speak for myself, but i get it. i have been feeling that way for a while now. my day job is in admin and when i tell people this i get the general "oh" and head nod. the conversation usually ends there until i ask them what they do and they rattle on about their brain surgeon/criminal defense lawyer/organic farmer/baby teething ring inventor career. i say "oh" and give a head nod.

am i just being hyper self-conscious? or is zosia on to something? does success mean the same thing to every woman?

personally, i don't want to be the CEO of any company. i don't want to work 70+ hours a week. i don't want to be glued to my work phone or attend fundraiser dinner after fundraiser dinner. but yet i feel this unspoken (sometimes spoken) pressure to do all of those things. before breakfast. in high heels.

i have been stressing out lately about my work/career future. what does it look like? what should i be doing right now to take the next steps? i feel paralyzed by the choices and also the lack of choices it seems. is anyone else in this boat? does anyone else feel the pressure to DO DO DO? but, along the same lines, does anyone else feel content with not being the "it" girl? how do you battle those opposing thoughts?

for me, the best way i know how to combat those thoughts is to give them over to the Lord. my worries are not completely gone, but they are in much better hands than my own. if i want to Lord to lead me and guide me in my life, it doesn't make sense for me not to pray and give my insecurities and stresses over to Him. it seems the more i try to figure this particular area out on my own, the less clarity i have. since i have been more aware of that, i have felt more peace as i work in my current job and wait for the opportunities that lie ahead.

if you'd like, take a few minutes and read zosia's article. it was a really great and encouraging read, and it helped me realize that i am not the only one who struggles with this "success complex".

success doesn't necessarily come in the form of a big paycheck or shiny plaques or your name in the credits. success means working hard, yes. and success means trying and doing your best, but i think it really looks different for everyone. if you're a mom, maybe success means getting your little one down for an afternoon nap. if you are a student, perhaps success means working on that huge paper for a few solid hours before taking a break. this past weekend, success for me meant taking a big box of crap to goodwill. and i wasn't even wearing heels.

by the way, if you are a high-profile working woman who is wheeling and dealing with the best of them, i salute you. seriously. you are a rockstar. we need each and every one of you. some of the best businesses are run by women, and i am beyond inspired by all of the creative women out there who are making it happen. they work hard and i applaud them. this is more of a personal issue than it is me ranting at successful business women. not the case at all. i just get frustrated that this expectation of being all that you can be and then some seems so prevalent around me. thoughts from you, my readers? i'd love for you to weigh in!

what didn't make it to emma's instagram

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hey, all! happy monday. i hope everyone had a good weekend. did you get into anything fun? mine was a mix of family, friends, food, fun. apparently, my weekend was brought to you by the letter F.

last monday, i was honored to do a little guest post for emma over at the hippie memoirs. i had such a fun time putting it together, and i am so excited that i get to feature her on humming right along today! i can't remember exactly how i found emma's blog. i was probably browsing comments on someone else's post and clicked on her name. i am so glad i did because it led me to her wonderful blog! it was one of those times when i knew immediately that i had stumbled upon a really great space. emma is creative and inspiring and has excellent taste in music. she loves the Lord and her friends and family. her instagram feed is flawless, and she has a great sense of style. oh, and she's super sweet and kind and has been such a dream blog friend! she is moving to nashville this summer and there may or may not already be talks of an epic road trip in our future. fingers crossed.  

today, emma is going to be taking over my "what didn't make it to instagram" series. but first, a little Q and A with the lovely girl so we can all get to know each other a little better. and heeeeere's emma!

1. What do you most like to do in your free time?  

I love to travel and explore, even if that means just jumping in the car and driving without intention. I'm also a big reader and I love spending time in bookstores and coffee shops. And then, of course, hanging with friends, listening to records, and writing. I'm also pretty addicted to online shopping :)

2. What creatively inspires you?  

Lots of things inspire me! It can be a great book, a song, a design, or even an individual. I feel like I am most inspired by people who live without limits and embrace life to the fullest.

3. Do you like to cook/bake? If so, what is your favorite thing to make?  

I definitely bake more than I cook. My favorite thing to bake would have to be cupcakes. One summer I worked my way through a cookbook making a different cupcake each week!

4. Why did you start blogging? And how has your blog changed over time?  

I wanted to be able to combine my love of photography and writing and have a place that was all my own where I could document my life. I was inspired by other bloggers and thought a blog would be a good creative outlet. Over the years I think I've definitely become more concrete with my blog posts. My blog is still first and foremost a place for me to write about my life, but it has also become a place to express myself and to meet super rad people (like Lacey)! Another thing that's changed since I first started blogging is that I don't pressure myself to post everyday. That just became so much of a hassle and it was to the point where I was posting content just to post. Now I try to put up around 4 posts a week which gives me a nice breather and is a way to ensure that each post is thought out rather than just thrown together.

5. What are your top three albums or artists of all time?  

This is such a tough one...

"Underneath" by Hanson
"Dreamboat Annie" by Heart
"Barton Hollow" by The Civil Wars

6. Who do you admire and why?  

I definitely admire my parents and my pastors. There are several people in my life who have gone out and chased their dreams no matter what the odds and they've done so without compromising their character or their beliefs. Those are the type of people that I admire most!

7. What is your favorite movie?  

My favorite movie would have to be "Across the Universe". The music, the sets, the story- I love it all! Other than that, I pretty much love anything starring Rachel Mcadams.

8. Sweet or savory?  

I'm definitely a sweet-kind of gal. Bring on the sugar!

9. What are some things on your summer bucket list?  

So far I have a few trips planned but I definitely want to do more traveling, I'd love to see the fireworks in DC for the 4th of July, I want to spend as much time at the beach as possible, and no summer is complete without a Ferris wheel ride!

10. What is your recipe for happiness? 

I think that happiness is found in loving yourself, in loving life, and in loving others. Although it's not always the easiest thing to do, if we strive to love, even in the toughest situations, we will be rewarded with happiness in one way or another.

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Top left: Hair always looks its best after the stylist does it.

Top right: Flipping through "The Kinfolk Table" for recipe inspiration.

Bottom left: Nothing better than a cold Starbucks on a hot day. (I take my black tea with a dash of lemonade. It's so good!)

Bottom right: I love front porches decked out in American Flags during the summer time.

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Top left: Puppy Kisses are the best kind.

Top right: It wouldn't be a proper Sunday night without a bubble bath.

Bottom left: Some days, getting out of bed is the hardest part.

Bottom right: This weathered little building outside of my office always reminds me of something out of a movie.

emma, thank you for being such a wonderful friend and guest posting for me today! i love all of your non-instagrams! it's fun to see what you're up to, and, hello, that starbucks drink actually does sound really delicious. i might just have to try that myself. please head on over to emma's blog and follow her along on all of her adventures. she's the real deal!

blackberry blackberry

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dan and i took a day trip home to see my family in southern pines this past saturday and had a lovely time. my parents have a little garden in their yard as well as a blueberry and blackberry bush. neither berry is quite ripe (maybe a couple more weeks?), but now i can't stop thinking of blackberry desserts! do you guys have any favorite blackberry recipes? or even another kind of berry dessert that you like to make? here are a few that sound quite delicious to me.

blackberry oatmeal crumble bars

chocolate blackberry cake

cherry, blackberry, and almond crisp

blackberry cheesecake

lemon blackberry tart

summer fruits, make my dreams come true.

guest post-10 things i love

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hey, ya'll! happy monday and all that. hope you guys had a great weekend! did you get into anything fun?

i am guest posting over on the hippie memoirs today. the ever cool miss emma and i have become bloggy friends and have coordinated a couple of fun guest posts for you guys. she has a series called "10 things i love", and today i am taking it over! head on over to read a little Q and A about yours truly and then see what i'm currently digging.

make sure you read through her posts and get to know her! she is super creative and sweet and has the best taste in music. basically, i want to be her. or at least be her friend so she can rub some of that coolness off on me. thank you, emma!

internet gems. part six.

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black and white photos in color. this is blowing my mind.

apparently recent country music is just one big audible vine. (credit goes to lori for this one.)

this coffee cart is craaaazy, and i want it. right, emma?

this girl is funny (and awkward), and her outfits are on point. her friday confessions are always entertaining.

a playlist that ROCKS. so many good tracks. do yourself a favor and click on that link. DO IT.

on this blog you will find the cutest little boy in all the land. don't pretend not to be interested. have a look for yourself.

i attempted to make homemade turkey meatballs last night, and they left a lot to be desired. i don't know where i went wrong except probably when i thought i could make homemade turkey meatballs. this little recipe looks much more doable. it's a shrimp. on a chip.

people magazine just made my day by putting jimmy fallon and his adorable baby on their most recent cover. this guy makes me LAUGH.

a bra.

surprise date

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my man surprised me with a date to the north carolina museum of art on friday night. i showed up at his apartment wearing a dress and he was like "we have to go somewhere nice with you looking that good." or something to that effect. seriously. where did this kid come from?

i hadn't been there since high school so it was really cool to look at all of the new stuff. i'm not a high brow art history expert so i'm sure much of the art appreciation was lost on me, but it was still fun to walk around and ohh and ahh over certain pieces and scratch our heads at others. (art is a loose term, yeah?)

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is there an art museum close to any of you that you have been to? do you have a favorite artist or exhibit? a favorite time period of art?

june mix

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hey, babes. it's still spring, but it feels like summa summa summatime. every year i am determined to get through summer with a smile on my face. i somehow think i am going to start magically liking it. i think "this year will be different. i will not have to wipe sweat from my brow when i walk from my apartment to my car." and every year i am DEAD WRONG. but it's ok because i just got the cutest maxi dress from target, and when i feel sad about the dog days of summer, i will pull my dress out and put it on. in my air conditioned apartment.

let's do this thing with the music already.

june mix

runaway : mat kearney

black out days : phantogram

lady luck : pickwick

do : young man

saint catherine st. : sea wolf

slow motion : phox

feels like coming home : jetta

time to run : lord huron

where the spirit left us : okkervil river

lay your cards out : polica


happy june tunes!

much thanks

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welcome to the shortest post in history. just wanted to thank you guys for following along this little blog of mine. i don't always have the most exciting things to say or, let's be honest, the most consistent posting schedule, but i am so flattered and excited that you guys take the time to stop by and share your sweet comments. you guys are the best! thank you for reading and humming right along.

currently

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linking up with jenna and anne today for a "currently" post!

cooking: i cooked up a storm this past weekend. my boyfriend was in colorado for several days, and i thought it would be nice to stock him up with a few meals upon his return. i made sesame garlic pork loin, classic potato salad, pasta salad, and shortbread chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies. he was not the only one who benefitted from this cooking frenzy.

watching: castle season four on netflix. i have no idea who even watches this show, and i am really behind in the series so i don't think i will ruin anything if i say THEY FINALLY KISSED. that's all.

planning: weekend trips. i don't have a big vacation on the horizon, so i am looking forward to planning some short weekend trips to the beach, my hometown, charleston, charlotte, etc. weekend trips are sometimes my favorite trips because the planning/travel time is usually pretty minimal and you can really focus on enjoying your time there.

reading: still working my way through the ghost at the table and just started evolving in monkey town. good reads so far! and since we're on the topic, i mentioned in this post my goal to read a minimum of one book a month this year. i am happy to report i am still on track! we're in june and halfway there. don't fail me now, good intentions.

wearing: this new maxi dress. it has pockets for my necessary items. lip gloss and chocolate. i am the happiest girl on the block.

head on over to the link-up to see what everyone else is "currently" up to!

coffee talk

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on friday i was craving coffee from one of my fave coffee places, bean traders. it's right next to a grocery store and as i needed to get some orange juice anyways...you see where this is leading.

i got an iced coffee and on this very rare occasion i put half and half in it. i always drink my plain coffee black, but i was feeling indulgent so go full fat or go home.

i love this coffee shop for several reasons. it's super close to my house, it's literally across the plaza from my gym, they have tons of tables and seating areas for working, and they have the most amazing caramel lattes. i have taken both my mom and my dad here for coffee dates, i have taken my roommate, i have taken out of town friends. this got me thinking. i want to take YOU on a coffee date. yes. i would like to treat both you and i to coffee here. this is what we might talk about...

i would probably tell you that i'm very happy to be chilling with you at a coffee shop because is there anything better? friends + coffee = deep soul happiness.

i might ask you if you're learning anything cool lately-a new hobby or a book that's interesting you or maybe something in your spiritual life.

i'd tell you about this class i'm taking next week about finding and creating work you love. because i need help in that area. not so much the finding work i love but the creating it part. i'm trying to jump start my craft hobby into more than just a hobby! i would also ask if you had any advice for me.

you would have to tell me about your summer plans. i'd want to know if you have any vacations or trips planned-big or small. i love to travel so it's fun for me to hear about other people's adventures.

and since we were at a coffee shop, i'd ask you what you go-to coffee drink of choice was. important issues, people. important issues.

so, how about it? coffee on me?

this coffee date post idea was inspired by betsy! check her out over here.