This month on Positively Present I've been celebrating and focusing on love (one of the most positive things in the world!) and what better way to keep that theme going than to share with you some of the things I love right now. I don't do it often enough but I believe it's so very important to take some time to think about the things that are important to us, the things we love. They don't have to necessary be big, grand things (like our lives or our loved ones). Sometimes the things we love can be the little things, the small elements of life that bring smiles to our faces or light up our days with that little extra bit of excitement. When I stop and think about the things I love, the list really is endless. However, today I'm going to focus on a few of my favorite things, the things I'm loving right now...
♥ Alice in Wonderland ♥
Right now one of the top things on my mind is Alice in Wonderland. For as long as I can remember, it's been my favorite film and next month the Tim Burton version is coming out (OMG, I'm SO excited!). With the new Wonderland film coming out, Alice has been creeping up the trend latter lately, which is pretty awesome for someone like me. I've already picked up OPI nail polishes and Urban Decay's eye palette, and this Forever 21 bracelet and I cannot wait to get my hands on Paul & Joe's makeup collection, the Almost Alice soundtrack, and the Wonderland Wii Game(yes, I almost ever play Wii, but I'm certain I'll get into it once I have this game!). I'm also craving pretty much all of Hot Topic's Alice merchandise. If you want to learn more about what I love about Alice and her adventures in Wonderland, check out a post I wrote last year called "Wisdom From Wonderland."
♥ Concert season ♥
Two nights ago, I was fortunate enough to see the brilliantly talented Tegan and Sara (who were also pretty hilarious, by the way) an their phenomenal show launched the start of what I like to think of as concert season -- also know as spring and summer to many of you. I love going to concerts. When I'm there I feel almost like a different person. I am so into the shows and I'm so capitivated by the words and the sounds (mostly, I believe, because of my not-so-secret desire to be a rock star, which has resulted only in me begging my parents for a guitar that I never learned to play). Since I can't be a rock star, I like to spend my free time watching them. So far I've lined up the following shows -- Vampire Weekend, Phoenix, and The National-- and I'm still on the prowl for more. I'm really looking forward to memberable season of concerts and if Tegan and Sara was any indication of what's to come than I'm in for a real treat!
♥ Longer days ♥
I know summer is a long way off, but I can't help but get excited when I leave work and it's still bright out. There's something about having the sun shining as I'm walking to my car at 5:00pm that makes me believe in summer. It can easy to think of summer as a dream when there are still feet of (dirty!) snow piled high and the air is bitingly cold, but when I leave the office and the sun is still shining, I remember that summer is a reality and that it's not as far away as I often think it is. Right now I'm looking outside my window at a world covered in snow and I just cannot wait until it has melted and the hot, hot summer weather comes my way again. Every day is getting longer, giving me more and more hope that summer -- and that glorious sunshine that comes with it -- is on the way! If you want to get extra excited about the upcoming season, check out "7 Ways to Celebrate Summer"!
♥ Photographs ♥
Much to my surprise, I spend way more time thinking about photographs than I ever would have imagined. Not only do I spend a great amount of time searching for the perfect images for my blog posts on websites like We Heart It (I'm obsessed -- so much so that I think my boyfriend is starting to grow a little bit concerned about my undying affection for -- and endless time spent on -- the site!), but I've also spent a lot more time taking pictures than I used to. (Alright, to be fair, I'm not usually the one taking them. It's usually my very-talented-with-the-camera boyfriend taking pictures while I pose.) But, for the first time in a long time, I've created an actual hold-in-your-hands photo album and I'm pretty excited about that. I'm also very excited about the amazing picture of Bella (above). Who wouldn't love that?!
♥ Reading ♥
This one is nothing new for me -- I'm always reading whenever I can find the time -- but it's something I never fail to be deeply in love with. There is something about the written word that has always touched my heart in a way few other things can. Things I've particularly enjoyed reading lately include: Barbara Fredrickson's Positivity: Top Notch Research Reveals the 3 to 1 Ratio That Will Change Your Life (which, yes, has changed my life), Alice I Have Been (an amazing novel based on events from the life of the real Alice in Wonderland), and Guardians of Being (a fantastic little book about how animals help us live in the present). To check out more of the books I've been reading, follow Positively Present on Goodreads.
As much as I love reading books, I also really love reading blogs. Here are some of the sites I'm lovin' right now: 1000 Awesome Things, Dreamin' the Life, Dumb Little Man, Gala Darling, Incredible Things, Kind Over Matter, Look Far, Mermaid in a Manhole, Pick the Brain, Sources of Insight, The Happiness Project, Tiny Buddha, Unleash Reality and -- of course -- Twitter (yes, it might be in 140-character chunks, but I do actually receive a lot of great info from Twitter!). For a complete list of the blogs and sites I follow (and love!), look to your right under "Wonderful Websites." If you know of a site that should be on that list, let me know. I'm always looking for new and awesome reading material.
♥ Your Feedback ♥
One of the things I love more than anything is waking up and seeing my in-box filled with emails alerting me that there are new comments on my blog. It's such a great feeling to know that people are reading and to hear what they have to say about what I've written. There's something about blogging that's so unique compared with other forms of writing. If I were writing books or articles, I would certainly get feedback, but not in the same way I do here on the blog. Comments are one of my favorite things and they are such a great reminder to me that what I'm doing matters and that what I love to do -- write! -- actually means something to other people. Sometimes I receive wonderful emails telling me that I've been an inspiration or a role model and I cannot even begin to tell you how happy those emails make me. I LOVE them. Thank you to anyone who has ever left a comment, written an email, or contacted my on Twitter. I love all of that feedback -- so much so that it's made the list of things I love!
As I was writing this list, I thought of how much fun it's going to be to look back on the list years from now and see all of the things that I love right now, in the February of my twenty-seventh year. Of course, these aren't ALL of the things I love right now. I know you guys don't have time to read page after page after page of all the things that are bringing me joy right now so I tried to keep it simple. What I want to know now is what you're loving. February is the Month of Love on Positively Present so please share with me all of the things YOU love in the comments section!
What makes your fabulous list of love this month?
If you could choose 5 things you're in love with right now, what would they be?
Things I am in love with:
Photography of course. It is my passion.
Some special people in my life. :-)
Blogging...especially when I can work up a photo blog
The freedom that comes from living alone
Living in the moment when I can manage it
A dream I have of my future
Would you mind if I expand on my list and blog it?
Posted by: jr cline | February 19, 2010 at 02:23 PM
Right now I love:
My husband
Not having a job :)
Photographs - taking my own and seeing other people's.
Reading - it's been such a pleasure to slow down and rediscover losing myself in books.
Finding more balance in life
Tarot
And Dani, many thanks and much appreciation for taking the time to respond individually to all our comments. I love that you do this and it makes your blog very special.
Posted by: Catherine | February 19, 2010 at 02:47 PM
JR - That's a great list! You should definitely expand it and blog about it. Can't wait to see what you come up with. :)
Catherine - Another great list! I'm quite jealous of your "not having a job" love. That sounds like a great way to spend more time reading, taking pictures, and doing all of the other things you love. It's really nice to know that you appreciate the time I take to write back to comments. I really do love getting comments and they mean a lot to me so I'm glad I can respond to them!
Posted by: positively present | February 19, 2010 at 03:19 PM
This is such a lovely list of inspiring things and the accompanying pictures are absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for spreading the positivity love. Your posts certainly brighten my day when I read them.
Posted by: Ellecubed | February 19, 2010 at 05:36 PM
As much as you love the comments, we love your words first.
I think Guardians of Being is the best book I've read. It's perfect. I take it everywhere with me.
I get the esteemed privilige of Tegan & Sarah and The Vampire Weekend in May in Australia.
This month though:
5. Seeing my family in Perth after an absence
4. Going back to the hills
3. Reading more
2. Cooler weather
1. Doing less
Posted by: Jonathan | February 19, 2010 at 06:49 PM
hmm still loving your blog.
Loving right now
my family
my hubby
my schooling
this blog
Posted by: jenn | February 19, 2010 at 08:25 PM
I love your list. I'm always loving photography as well!
I'm loving right now:
- my life
- my friends
- my partner
- photography :D
- the weekend
- watching shows!
Posted by: sui | February 19, 2010 at 08:33 PM
My love list:
- France! (I'm here for another 8 days!)
- Baguettes with cheese (goes hand-in-hand with France)
- learning french verb conjugations (I know this makes me sound like a total nerd but I love to learn about languages!)
- WiFi (I have no idea how it works, it amazes me!)
- GPS (saved me from many an argument with my husband)
and one last one for good measure:
- words (finding the perfect quote, or perfect combination of words to express a thought)
Posted by: Eran - The Quarterlife Quest | February 20, 2010 at 03:44 AM
My lover list:
long nights in newly opened "Art Café" in our small town (it's winter here)
hot wine with spices (don't know what's the word for that)
my orderly room (for another few hours)
jazz music
reading
all my drumsticks :)
Posted by: Zoli Cserei | February 20, 2010 at 04:52 AM
it's the love list not the "lover list" haha :))
Posted by: Zoli Cserei | February 20, 2010 at 04:52 AM
Ellecubed - Thanks so much for the comment! I'm so glad you liked the list and the pictures (which took me a little while to put together!). Thanks for reading and for being so positive about my positivity! :)
Jonathan - Thank you! What a nice thing to say! I also adore the Guardians of Being book. Any animal lover MUST get it. It's one of my favorites! Sounds like a great list of love that you came up with. I hope you have a great time at the concerts. Tegan and Sara were AWESOME!
Jenn - Yay! I'm so glad you're still loving the blog. That's a great love list that you created and I especially like the schooling one. I love learning!
Sui - Great list! I'm loving the weekend right now myself. I'm SO happy it's Saturday morning right now! :)
Eran - France sounds awesome. I've never been and can't wait to check it out someday. WiFi and GPS are definitely two amazing things that I don't understand but love anyway. I LOVE that you put words. They are probably the thing I love most of all!
Zoli - Haha, yes, I was pretty sure you meant "love list" but "lover list" works too! It sounds like you have a lot of great things on your list and I love the idea of a cafe in a small town in winter. Sounds cozy!
Posted by: positively present | February 20, 2010 at 07:54 AM
Great post Dani.
My five things would be:
My family
My girlfriend
My blog
My moleskin notebook
My backwards cap (wear almost everyday to keep hair out of my face when I type) :)
Posted by: Hulbert | February 20, 2010 at 06:27 PM
i loveeee this post! you just read my mind with the alicia trend and the concerts how lucky you are to go see tegan and sara I love them!
kisses from south america :)
Posted by: Mayra | February 21, 2010 at 03:01 AM
Hulbert - Great list! I'm loving a lot of those things right now too -- my family, my boyfriend, my blog, my notebooks. I don't have a backwards cap like you but it does sound like a great idea for keeping the hair out of your face!
Mayra - Yay! I'm glad you liked this one so much. Tegan and Sara are awesome! If they ever come your way, you definitely must check them out. :) Thanks so much for the comment. It's awesome to know that someone in South America (so far away from where I am in Washington, DC!) is reading my blog. :)
Posted by: positively present | February 21, 2010 at 10:24 AM
Great list!
Mine:
1. Alice in Wonderland :D
2. New position of my sewing machine table.
3. Coffee.
4. Thinking of a potential new apartment with enough space for yoga.
5. Discovering new blogs :)
Posted by: All Women Stalker | February 21, 2010 at 06:28 PM
I always find your posts some fun to read. Sometimes it's almost as if you were writing about me. :-) I have an award for you on my blog...everyone needs a little sunshine.
Posted by: Jonique | February 21, 2010 at 09:25 PM
Love the list...
My 5 loves right now:
1. My new phone
2. The Sunshine
3. The 50 degree weather
4. Nike+ Workout schedule
5. My 11 days off of work!!!!
Posted by: Jonique | February 21, 2010 at 10:30 PM
Meream - Thank you! Your list is pretty great too and it's awesome to see that you're loving Alice in Wonderland as much as I am right now. I'm getting ready to move to a new (bigger!) apartment too and I'm very excited about that!
Jonique - Thank you so much for the award. It means a lot to me. I have an "Awesome Awards" section over on the left and I'll add it there soon. Thanks for reading and I'm so happy to hear that you relate to the posts! So jealous of your 11 days off of work! :)
Posted by: positively present | February 22, 2010 at 08:45 AM
You reminded me how much I miss the long days of Summer.
Alice in Wonderland done Burton style should be pretty cool. I like how he twists and bends things.
Posted by: J.D. Meier | February 22, 2010 at 11:55 AM
J.D. - Man, do I miss summer too! I cannot wait for it to get here again. Tim Burton definitely does some very interesting things with film and I'm excited to see what he does with my all-time favorite, Alice.
Posted by: positively present | February 22, 2010 at 02:19 PM
I'm loving:
a meeting tonight with my home group
spending a few days away with my sweetheart
the days are getting longer
the daffodils are starting to come up
the frogs are croaking
LIFE!
Posted by: Syd | February 22, 2010 at 04:43 PM