I've always been obsessed with the Space Age--not the intricacies of intergalactic goings-on, per se--but the history surrounding the Space Race... the decades of exploration and excitement. And yes, like every other kid growing up in early '90s America, I begged my parents to send me to Space Camp (you can guess how that went), Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies, and I wrote many a riveting elementary school report on Sally Ride. So, clearly I am chomping at the bit for the upcoming mini-series "The Astronaut Wives' Club." I just started reading the book and am completely entranced... being in a relationship is tough enough, but these women raised families and portrayed the quintessential Americana vibe, donning their warmest housewife smiles, all while supporting the insane antics their husbands wholeheartedly dove into--always with unknown outcomes. And they forged incredible bonds while doing so.

Here's a really cool interview from last summer with several of them--disappointingly, several of the marriages collapsed, but yet the friendships forged on.

...coming at you live from the bustling metropolis that is Lorena, Texas!! I have been intently enjoying my extended vacation from work--we spent nearly a week in St. Thomas with friends (GO if you ever have the opportunity), and then ST headed back to Nashville for work and I skipped on over to Texas to see family and such. I was hesitant to leave work for two weeks--especially with my boss out on maternity leave--but the break has been so much more therapeutic than I expected. I mean... I'm kinda having a difficult time absorbing that I need to mentally check back in to Real Life in the not too distant future.





So, I wholeheartedly indulged in island life for a good bit, then immediately came back to my roots... a dear friend was married the day after I arrived here, and I've spent the past week trekking all over Texas (Dallas to Houston anyway) to love on friends (and their babies!), shopped my little heart out in Waco (a necessary errand every time I come home) and today I'll witness my baby cousin graduate high school before joining my big crazy family on our annual camping trip. 

Life is good today.

In the meantime, as you wait with bated breath for my endless slew of tropical photos, here's a short list of what's up with that!




 ...errr, me: 

reading | Dana Perino's "And The Good News Is..." also really itching to start "The Astronaut Wives' Club" (by Lily Koppel) as I am obsessed with that era and all things space and NASA.

browsing | In a manner that is not at all reflective of my typical habits, I have but three windows open, currently... gmail, blogger and reader. Aside from an influx of shameless vacation photos, I've really tried to disconnect from my phone and technology as much I can. And it has been fantastic.

donning | Old Navy? Shift dress game strong. I grabbed this and this this week. I don't do a lot of mall shopping in Nashville, because my anxiety with rude crowds would inevitably lead to homicide at some point. I also finally found this dress here in Waco! (sold out in Nashville and online). Target has been rocking the swimwear, per the usual--I got this top and this top (and replaced my forever old, but ever-reliable black bottoms... which took a day in St. Thomas to realize uhh, yeah, the elastic in these pups is SHOT. now would be the time to splurge on a $15 pair of bottoms, Meg.)

Otherwise, my "at home" attire consists solely of nike shorts, lululemon crops and old navy tank tops. It's quite a glamorous life I lead.

watching | Catching up on The Bachelorette as I have late night time when pops + jules have hit the hay. also, ST and I started Bloodline and I'm all about getting back into that when I get home

wishing | that "vacation" from work constituted authentic "vacation." I've spent more time on email than I care to mention thanks to summer print deadlines.

jazzed about |  my baby cousin's graduation! seeing extended family on my mom's side... and getting back to Nashville, ST and Maizers... and actually getting into ironing out some of our summer plans.

sipping on | Beer. Texas = beer.

wondering | How the hell could my cousin be graduating?! I remember the exact day she was born, May 16, 1997--my mom called me at school (I was in fifth grade), and I was called to the office--and subsequently had to climb over all of my classmates, as we were sprawled on the floor watching a movie in a dark classroom--to hear the news. Sweet memory.

DGAF | Caitlyn Jenner. I mean, way to go, Bruce... you do you. Why the hell does everyone care so much? Isn't there enough to worry about? Everyone has a freaking opinion about ev-er-y-thang and it just chaps my ass to hear and read so many opinions. Carry on. There are bigger fish to fry... fish you actually can control. Or something.

grateful for | yes, it's redundant, but this vacation was nothing short of heavenly. I've never been one who craved big-time vacations, but we have friends who so graciously invited us to join them on their vacation--and they were an absolute blast. Travel with others can be tricky, but it was such a memorable, hilarious, exciting and beautiful week. I feel really lucky to have them in our lives, and nearby in Nashville--they're the epitome of "good people." 

I promise an onslaught of vacation pictures soon--St. Thomas AND Texas! 

Three years.

Three. More than 1000 days...

How?

This place has officially--as of today, June 1--been "home" for three years--longer than any other home base I've had since college. I made the move to Nashville for a few reasons--mostly for ST and our relationship, but largely because I was satiating a nagging itch for a change of pace. New surroundings. A fresh routine. And bit-by-bit, I found it all... but mostly, I expanded my family and I found a home.

Life as a resident of Nashville kickstarted with a job I appreciated, residing in a trendy-esque zip code, and finally experiencing day-to-day--the good, bad and ugly--with my guy. My familiar comforts of a few decades at home virtually dissolved overnight--the fact of the matter is, I committed to little to no mental prep about all I was leaving in Texas... my hometown, my network of family and friends, my beloved job. I felt my move date imminently creeping up as I packed box after box and rattled off my tearful goodbyes, but looking back, I vaguely sensed an eleventh-hour minor panic about making new, good friends, about fitting in. Mind you, my prototypical ESFJ self had never really let me down in the avenue of melding right into most groups I was ever dropped into, and yet, as the first few weeks of Nashville life rolled by, I desperately missed the company of my Texas girlfriends and felt the gnaw of their absence in my life. Aside from a few Twitter contacts (some of whom have since become some of my best friends), I had absolutely no one to lean on aside from ST.

But as it happened, most of these distant Twitter girls had also recently transplanted to Nashville: we were all braving the gray, murky water in the same proverbial boat.

And brave it, we did, wholeheartedly diving onto the pathway together, one happy hour and TV night at a time. As I did my part to foster these friendships, I eased into what I now think of as my grown-up self (if I can be so bold). ST and I immersed ourselves in a church we love, and I joined the junior league. I (somewhat impulsively) became a nanny to fill my scant spare time, and ST and I carefully honed our own routines of menial tasks like grocery shopping and exploring new dinner haunts.The weeks became months, I was confident in not summoning my GPS app on a daily basis, and suddenly? I had my grocery store, and my dry cleaners, and my dog groomer, and this? This was home.

As infectiously charming as Nashville has been for me, the people are truly what have done it for me. They're family. ST, especially... who knew sharing a home could deepen and season a relationship, right? ;) In all seriousness, he has been so tremendously supportive and encouraging of every single thing that I do and I couldn't for one second imagine trotting down this trail without him.

I'm actually home in Texas this weekend for a wedding, a graduation and a camping trip (yes, I know). Last night at the wedding, a good friend began with, "so... are you feeling it? Nashville lifer?" And without hesitation, I felt the smile spread across my face as I nodded slightly and said, "you know... I think so."

There are absolutely some elements of Texas that will unequivocally never be able to be replicated elsewhere for me... but all things considered? I daresay I've found my way home.