dear 16 year old me.

dear 16 year old me,

take time and chat with people who have walked a little bit further on the journey of life. their wisdom and insight will be priceless as you walk your journey.

the "ear to ear" list.

something that i adore more than anything. meeting friends of friends.

there is something about it that helps explain a person better. that allows you to see a bigger picture of the person that you are walking through life with. plus, who doesn't love meeting new friends! 

my sweet friend shannon recently had one of her dear friends in town. it was so fun to sit and chat over margs and queso and hear all about her friend hannah. 

at one point in the conversation they started talking about their "lists". basically, this list contains things that make them happy. i have called it the "ear to ear" list, because hopefully everything on this list should make you grin... ear to ear.

they shared theirs with me and several things occurred to me as i listened to them share pieces of their hearts and their happy places.

1. it was very clear why were were friends {new or old}

2. how incredible it is that we all have very distinct and different things that make us {us}

3. what an incredible way to bright your day, when your day seems to be clouded with big dark clouds.

here's mine. this is just the beginning.

{ear to ear}

- coffee

- diet coke (fountain or can, not bottles)

- colorado

- peanut butter m&m’s

- stickers

- sweatpants

- large t’ shirts

- margs with no salt

- fresh powdery snow with no footprints

- donuts

- straws

- boots

- grilled cheese with havarti, bacon, & apples

- mexican food

- whiskey

- mason jars

- porches

- crooked creek ranch

- boulder

- view from the top of sweat mountain

- spot by the mill at sharptop

- the color yellow

- apple pie caramel apples

- my vintage patagonia fleece paired with flannel

- a really beautiful photograph

- sunrises

- peonies

- craft beer

- the weepies

- long car trips with windows down

- laughter when it turns to tears

- the movie: because i said so

- used bookstores and libraries

- the smell of dew in the mornings

- sitting down after a run

- teacups

- my grandma's amethyst ring

- handwritten letters

- the smell of honeysuckle

- the book: the sweetest thing

- lower case letters

- scarves

- rifle paper co.

- stationary

- strawberry cake with cream cheese icing

- macaroons

- fall scented candles

- quilts

- playing “hookie”

- card games

- the feeling when i walk into anthro; creativity overflowing

- dolly parton

- pancakes

- airports and the possibilities that they bring

- exploring new places

- raw spinach

- fruity fran from chicken salad chick in auburn

- big blue bagel

- dance parties before club

- dark chocolate

- mountains

- “the soundtrack of my life” playlist

- watching dance moms with my mom

- chattanooga

- iced chai tea lattes

- sporadic adventures

- fires

- sour cream

- movies that make you cry

- the feeling after skiing when you are in dry socks

- boys with beards

- hot yoga… and the shower after

- waking up to the smell of bacon

- 90s alternative music

- cuddling

- naps

- acoustic concerts

- s'mores

- crew neck sweatshirts

what would be on yours?