Top Five Things For A Better Monday Morning

Okay, I know - it's Tuesday. But, since yesterday was a holiday, today is essentially this week's Monday, so we're just going to go with it.

Monday mornings are rough. Even if you had the most relaxing week ever. Even if you went to sleep at 7PM the night before. Even if, like me, you absolutely love your job. It's the nature of the beast. Something about Monday mornings is just so intimidating - especially if you've spent your weekend living in your pajamas.

But never fear! There are some things you can do to make it better!

Today, I present...

1. Wake up a little bit earlier!  ||  I know, I know - this one seems very counter-intuitive. But there's nothing worse than snoozing through Monday morning and having to scramble to get ready. I find that my mornings go much smoother if I've got time to move a little bit slower. 

2. Open those windows!  ||  Getting ready in the dark only makes me more bitter about the fact that I'm not still sleeping. During the winter, this is one of those things that's hard to fight, but thankfully, the sun is rising earlier and earlier nowadays. Sunshine and fresh air are an instant pick-me-up in the morning.

3.  Pick your poison!  ||  Whether you love a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte, a mug of green tea, or a plain ol' cup of coffee, a little caffeine never hurt anyone. As nice as it is to pick up a drink from Starbucks on my way into work, I hate trying to drink the equivalent of molten hot lava while slamming on my brakes in traffic. I definitely enjoy my coffee a lot more when I'm still in my pajamas, doing a crossword or reading the news (side note: I sound like someone's grandmother here). 

4. Crank up the jams - to a considerate volume, of course!  ||  I'm always on the hunt for new, good music, and I've found that the mornings are the best time for a little bit of background noise. My newest favorite? Spotify's "The Happy Playlist" is a great combination of classic favorites and new tunes that put a smile on my face.

5. Breakfast, please! ||  There's nothing worse than getting hangry (hungry + angry, AKA the worst) on the drive into work because I didn't have time for breakfast. I always try to make some kind of breakfast creation over the weekend that'll sustain me throughout the week. While it might not be the most fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon, your stomach will thank you later!

What are your tips to a happier morning?

The place I call home

Last August, I moved to Colorado. This was arguably one of the biggest and craziest things I'd ever done in my life. After all, I didn't know anyone here. I'd never even visited Colorado. I'd never lived near mountains or driven in snow.

In retrospect, it was a pretty gutsy move. What if I hated Colorado? What if I couldn't tolerate the snow during the winter? What if I missed the salt air? The warm summer nights? My family and my friends?

I've learned that nothing is ever going to be perfect. I do miss the beach. I miss my family, and I miss all of my friends. I miss being able to know exactly what someone's talking about if they reference even the smallest town in Florida - after all, living somewhere for twenty three years teaches you a lot about a place. 

But I love my new home.

Colorado is one of the greatest things that has ever happened to me. I love the mountains. I love the winters. I love the people, the hiking, and the delicious craft beers. I love the fact that there always seems to be so much going on - in the next few weeks, I'm going to a concert at Red Rocks, a Rockies baseball game, a chalk art festival, and a beer festival. I'm joining a kickball league - one where you've got to hold a cup filled with some sort of beverage (read: delicious craft beer) while you play. And I'm sure I'll find even more stuff that I really want to do between now and then. 

Did I mention how gorgeous this place is? 

Where do you live? What do you love about it?

And the award for "Most Awkward New Blogger" goes to...

So, I decided it was time to make a blog.

I've thought about it for a while. I've come up with semi-clever blog names, written horrible first posts, been way too critical of myself, and deleted everything. Multiple times. But I feel like this is something I should be doing.

Why?

Because my life is pretty awesome right now. Up until last August, I'd lived my entire life in Florida. Don't get me wrong - Florida has its good points. The seafood is fresh, the beaches are warm, and almost all of my closest friends and family members still call it home. However, staying in the same place for twenty three years can get old, and I'd decided it was time to go.

I ended up in Colorado - a state that I knew virtually nothing about, and a place where I knew nobody at all. Well, nobody except my boyfriend, who moved out here with me! At first, it was exciting, but still a little scary. Aside from people at work, I didn't really know anyone, and I didn't have any friends. I didn't know any "cool" places to check out. I had no idea what happened on weekends so I just sat around my apartment.

Then, something clicked. I decided that wasn't working for me, so I got out, did some real exploring, and met some awesome people. I'm at a new and exciting stage of my life. I feel like there's so much to do - so many places to see, people to meet, opportunities to seize - that I'd be silly to not document it all.

So that's why this blog came around. I've got a lot of ideas for this baby, and I hope I don't bore anyone to death with them. I'll write about the places I visit, the people I meet, the recipes I try and the stuff that I can't live without - among other things, of course. But more on those later!

For now, I'll leave you with my Summer Survival Guide. At least, this is what I think my summer survival guide should consist of. I've never spent a full summer in Colorado, but I tend to spend this one like I've spent all the others in my life - drinking on patios, soaking up the sunshine, and avoiding pants at all costs.