Month: December 2018

At Home

Slow Like Saturday Morning

by Hailey MadisenLeave a Comment on Slow Like Saturday Morning

This past week was Christmas and safe to say, we need this slow weekend. I was out of bed two hours before Daniel which never (and I mean never happens). I have been home-ifying our little apartment like crazy every free moment I get. Rearranging the decor I already have out, pulling new things out of our organized and pretty junk-closet and adding to the donation pile what we haven’t used. I have been attempting a month of minimalism (blog post to follow, I hope) and it has been extremely beneficial for me to find what I love and display that in our home and keep in our closets instead of the clutter and what I think “should” be out. I’m trying to stop making my decisions based on the shoulds and it has been harder than it seems but also more beneficial I’ve found.

While I love Christmas, the time to reflect on why we celebrate and the time to spend with family, I hate the expectations of the holidays, from our families and from myself. (I’ve realized my own expectations are worse — for of the holidays and simply in general.) The pressure to show up, the pressure to give give give, the pressure to make everyone else happy. We were spread so thin this year so we’re working on that as well.

We took down our Christmas tree and all the decorations on December 26, Daniel’s request, and as much as I loved the coziness that the holidays brought, I didn’t expect the relief once it was all put away. The 9-foot tree gone meant for more space in the living room to move back furniture. The old Santa, stockings and candlesticks, little fake trees and golden reindeer gone meant more counter space, more open space, more breathing space. Our home is back to normal, back to clutter-free and I physically feel lighter.

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East Anywhere

by Hailey MadisenLeave a Comment on East Anywhere

I have loved writing since before I can even remember (as starts every writer’s bio). Mom would tell you I walked around with a notebook and pencil since I was two.  When I was five, I wrote my first book.  And by “book”, I mean the front and back of a single piece of orange construction paper where my words were written in columns — sentences reading from top to bottom, left to right.

I have started and deleted about seven blogs up until this point… I never felt they were good enough.  “Good enough” for who… I always felt the urge to write, so I would whip up some try-to-be-clever post and click publish.  Obviously with this mentality, the blogs were short lived and I was back to square one. Up until this point, I have been posting for others; posting to be read, posting to make others laugh, fingers crossed at being the next big Mommy Blogger come 2025. But what about me? My long-lived passion for writing far exceeds any friendships I have, any care what strangers in the universe think of me… so why couldn’t I just write a blog for me?  My thoughts, my words, my mostly awkward personality.

In September, Daniel moved into our cozy little white apartment.  We now live here together on East Racine Avenue.  My greatest struggle when wanting to create a blog has been coming up with a title. I know I didn’t want to use my name because that would seem like I have it all together which I most certainly do not.  I wanted the title to reflect where I was now as well as where I am going. I wanted the title to be as fluid as life is. Anywhere.  Our current living space on East Racine combined with the fluidity of anywhere — no matter where we roam, we are always East of something — and this blog, my blog, was given life.

I am still getting over my need for others’ approval and I am trying to write more for myself — to satisfy my mind’s desire to be creative and reflective, my hand’s craving to write, while also just jotting down quick notes to look back on and reminisce about.

Cause in the future, these will be the good ol’ days.

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Comfort Zones

by Hailey MadisenLeave a Comment on Comfort Zones

I begin just about every post thinking to myself, How is it already fillintheblank.  In this case, how is it already December?  In 5 days (that I know will fly by), we will have been married for two whole months.  I feel like I’ve only blinked my eyes and we’re here.  But it’s been easy.  Really easy.  And I feel anxious saying that, like I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop.  But it’s Daniel so I’m not really sure why I expected anything other than ease.

We’ve had both our younger sisters over this past week; Daniel’s sister Bek was over last night to watch the Jim Carrey Grinch with us.  I made a roast and twice baked stuffed potatoes with artichoke and tomatoes.  Tonight, Sadie came over and helped me throw together a Whole30 rendition of Zuppa Toscana (for the second time this week) that I sipped my 19 Crimes red wine with – a match made in heaven.  I helped her with her wedding registry, 149 days and counting, which I’m pretty sure I enjoyed far more than she did. But I digress.

Daniel and I dreamed up our 5 Year Goals earlier this week and it gave me butterflies to think about our future together.  We talked about things we wanted to do on our own (release two more albums for Daniel, finish writing a novel for me), as well as together – start a family.  It’s crazy when we talk about our future, I picture so many kids running around.  I am equally as scared for that next chapter as I am yearning for it.  I know we aren’t quite ready now (see first paragraph noting only two months of marriage) but I know that whenever I say yes, Daniel will be waiting with so much excitement.

Also on our list was clean living. I have been super into wellness the last year and my curiosity is growing.  I want to learn everything I can about all YoungLiving products and my current every-day products.  It’s crazy the more you read into the harmful chemicals and hormone disrupters in most products that line the shelves.  It’s going to be so hard for me to no longer go into Target and purchase the prettiest lotion or body spray. I’m learning to be more conscious about what goes into and onto my body and it’s going to be a journey I can tell.  I stepped out of my comfort zone and started a new oily Instagram all about it too.  Part of me wants more followers (i.e. enneagram 2’s need to be liked, need for approval), while the other part of me wants to keep this on private and not let anyone know it’s me (fear of rejection).  Trying to find balance between wanting to be heard and influence others on my wellness journey while also keeping my inner introvert protected.  Cheers to ending 2018 outside my comfort zone with this new Insta and my sweet little blog.