Bounce Back

Can you really call yourself a big city gal if your car hasn't been towed twice in one week for a sweet deal of $700 in cash all because you forgot to display your parking pass? I've verbally abused myself, the towing company, and our adorably nonsensical apartment manger quite a bit this week - not publicly of course, just to my mom, roommate, and boyfriend. I realize I am a bit harsh on the apartment-manager-that-must-not-be-named, but this person will not allow my roommate and I to purchase (for a small monthly fortune) a second parking pass so that we don't have to keep sharing the one flimsy thing - mind you, I have never seen our parking lot full- not even close. I know the Biebs said not to say never but NEVER. Therefore, adorably and nonsensical are the adjectives I am sticking with.

It could be much worse, but this week has been challenging to say the very least. The eternal optimist in me feels the most important piece of that sentence is that "it could be much worse." Because it could be. Frustrating things happen and we all make dumb mistakes, but how important it is to be able to bounce back and move on with your day? Epictetus was so right, "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

How do you bounce back?

Love,

Logan

A kid at heart

When I was a little girl, I was very bad when it came to going to bed. So bad that our pediatrician suggested to my mother to put a lock on the outside of my bedroom door. I would yell, scream, run out of my room, sneak out of my room, anything I could do to get out of going to bed. One night my uncle was over for a visit. It was about time for bed and, like clockwork, I began to whine.
"I wish I was a grown up so I didn't have to go to bed!" I had a lot of energy, still do.
My mom shook her head- she must have been pretty tired of my protests by that point.
"Come here Logan," my uncle asked. I walked over to him.
"You do not want to be a grown up, trust me," my uncle said.
"What? Of course I do! You guys can eat whatever you want and you don't have to go to bed or anything," I explained.
"You're right about those things, but you know what else we have to do?" he asked.
"What?" I wondered.
"We have to pay bills. Lots and lots of bills. We have to work all the time so we can make money to pay our bills. It is not fun and I wish I could be a kid again."

This conversation happened nearly 20 years ago and I remember it like yesterday- clearly, it made a big impact on me. Bills and work sounded way worse than eating apples and going to bed on time. That night I went right to bed and thought about what my uncle said. I decided I didn't want to be a grown up. Being a kid was really fun so I would just try to do that for as long as I could. My mom said that my dad was a "kid at heart"-he still is. He wanted to play games, make up songs, and joke around - he still does. I have always wanted to be like my dad in that way. This quote reminds me of the wild imagination and sense of wonder we adults tend to lose in the day-to-day routine of working hard and paying bills. To me, being a kid at heart means keeping life fun, hopeful, and positive. So remember, "keep believing, keep pretending."

Love,
Logan

For the love of cuteness, watch this

Happy Friday!

What is it about cute animals fitting into small places that is so amusing? Around 1:12, I laughed out loud.This video started my Friday off right- I hope it makes you smile. Be safe in your travels & have fun on your adventures. Enjoy this long holiday weekend.

Love,
Logan

Don't ever forget

There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America.

- William J. Clinton

First inaugural address

Washington, D.C.

January 20, 1993

Birthday Wishes

It's pretty hard to believe I will be 25 in 4 days. I remember my seventh birthday like it was yesterday. My most attentive and caring mother took my favorite Snow White Barbie to a local bakery where they put Ms. White in the middle of the cake and decorated the cake as her big beautiful ball gown all around her. My Mother was so excited to bring my cake out - as she should have been. What a fun, thoughtful idea, right?

Wrong. Seven-year-old Logan was extremely concerned for the well-being of her favorite doll. She was COVERED in icing! What was my Mom thinking?! Why would a cake decorator do such a thing? I was disgusted and unamused to say the least. My poor mother. Memories like this make me realize what a thankless job parenting must be at times. Going through all that trouble just to have your seven year old turn her nose up at you and stare in horror at the cake you so carefully designed.

Today when the Snow White cake is brought up, my mom gives me that look only a mom can give, and usually says "you little brat." Completely deserved. This is one of the few times in my life I can remember that my mom got me something that I didn't love. My mom has excellent taste. So does her mom. At least I think they do. I hardly ever make a Christmas list or birthday wish list as a result. Sure there are usually a couple things I might have in mind, but the things my mom picks out for me always end up being my favorite. For example, this past Christmas my parents bought me a Kindle. This idea wasn't even on my radar, but it was my most favorite gift- I was so excited. Although my mom does the best job of picking out gifts for me, I do have a few things that I would be pretty excited to get this year...

(Click on photos to see where I found items on my wishlist)

Who wouldn't want to cuddle with this little guy? Go O's!

LOVE this pillow from Etsy - matches my new room too :)

Proceeds from PeaceBomb project bracelets  go toward clearing bomb littered land in Laos.

The Brave Collection helps fight human trafficking in Cambodia.

I love NPR & Coffee. Perfect.

I bought myself an early birthday present this year. Fell in love with it Saturday night and had to go pick up the last one after work this evening. They were sold out online. Here's the newest addition to my fossil handbag collection:

Simple and classic, my two favorites.

Thanks for tuning in.

Love,

Logan

"All Growed Up" ?

Certain things have me feeling like more of an adult lately and they aren't the things I would have expected. Technically at 24, I am very much an adult. However, I aspire to be like my 58 year old dad and never truly grow up. I love being able to laugh like a child at adult situations that are not as serious as your adult-self makes them out to be. I also delight in 8-year-old boy humor - fart jokes and such. I wish I was kidding. So inappropriate. Why are they so funny!? I think I spent too much time with my dad and brother as a child. I digress.

Yes I live in a big girl apartment, am paying bills, working full-time, etc. On the other hand, I have "The Sims 3" on my phone, I watch children's movies on a regular basis, and if it was socially acceptable to play with Barbies at my age, I definitely would (much of the reason I want to have a daughter someday). Lately though, I keep noticing small differences -ones that I wouldn't have thought of- in myself that make me feel not so much like a kid anymore. They aren't bad things, just different.

1. Leaving lipstick marks on my coffee cup. Isn't that how your mom's cups always were? Moms are the most grown of the grown-ups. They know everything.

2. Making myself busy when I am upset. I got homesick two weeks ago. Rather than indulging in the sadness, I went to Ikea, bought a six drawer dresser, hauled, and assembled it that evening - BY MYSELF. The other day I got really frustrated at work. I went into our office kitchen and vigorously scrubbed probably 20 dirty dishes. Both times I felt better. Or maybe I just felt too tired to remember the other feelings. Either way, it works.

3. Always making sure my nails look nice. I don't let the same polish chip away for three months as I have for the better part of my life. When it starts to chip, I remove it. Crazy, I know.

4. Taking clothes to the dry cleaners. I found a local dry cleaners that I like - and I take my blazers, work pants, other "DRY CLEAN ONLY" items there. Gone are the days of "Oh, it says 'dry clean only' that's probably an exaggeration, right? "...

...."Wait. Why do my favorite khaki dress pants look like a soggy burrito!?" 









5. Making my bed daily. Something about purchasing the bedspread on my own and paying an arm in rent each month makes me care that my apartment looks neat each day. Again, who am I? 










What does being an adult mean to you? Have you noticed changes in yourself that make you feel like a "grown-up"? 

Love,
Logan

P.S. If you got the Rugrats reference in the title, you probably watched Nickelodeon almost as much as I did.

I'm the worst, but I'm not sorry.

It has been exactly 7 weeks since my last entry. Life has been a tad bit busy. My new years blog resolution took a backseat to working, moving, and traveling. But I'm mostly settled in and thus ready to continue sharing.

Work consumes most of my time, which I love. I seriously love working. I love my job. I love having goals and accomplishing them. My coworkers are fabulous. I love working on a team, mentoring students, hiring new students. So far, my position is really rewarding. And I get paid to do this? Totally worth the wait.

So far, my apartment is fantastic & my roommate is super cool. Although I haven't had the chance to spend much time here. I moved in 3 weeks ago today and this is my first day off that I am spending here in Baltimore. Crazy. Last weekend was spent in South Beach with my mother, aunt, and one of my most favorite cousins - my bff was able to come for parts too :) We had silly amounts of fun. The weekend before that I spent at home sweet home, Ohio. Another of my aunts finally found her other half and was married on a beautiful sunny day before my whole huge family. We obviously danced and sang/screamed all night long. I think I'm just finally getting my voice fully back from that event. Worth it. The weekend before that, I moved to the city. Crazy. And then the weekend before that I visited another of my many awesome cousins in Virginia. Time goes so quickly when you don't ever sit still. I have been trying to capture each of these moments in my memory and by photograph. Rather than selecting a few funny stories - which seems overwhelming...they will come to me in time - I will share with you my last several weeks in photos. I'm off to my first Orioles game in a few short hours! Happy viewing.

Hung out with best friends before leaving the buckeye state.

Packed up the old Odyssey. 

Milo tried to come... holy moly I miss him.

Celebrated O's 21st / moved to Annapolis.

Became a Retriever. 

Hung out with O :)

And with my super cool Naptown roomies!

Made a new friend. SNOWY McFLUFFFACE

Got crafty with friends in Deep Creek. 

Laughed a lot with Tay.

Visited Steph in VA. We love each other.

Moved to Baltimore....

This was my nightstand for 2 weeks.

Met Steph again to road trip to OH.

To see this breathtaking bride.

And this handsome BIG lil bro.

Then South Beach for Mothers Day :)

Of course working tirelessly & making it rain all along...

...this is the good life.

Love,
Logan