Blog

September 2019 Inspiration

September 2, 2019 Leave a Comment

Sometimes I think September can be kind of forgotten. It’s that breath between the end of summer and true fall festivities. It’s deceptively spelled like “December,” but it doesn’t have the fun of the excessive holidays. But I’m excited for September because it’s full of all sorts of goodness in my life, including friends, food, fitness competitions, and fitness performances.

So wherever your September is taking you, I hope you have an inspirational month!

What I’m Being Inspired By

Current Jam:

I’m currently listening to all the songs that have been in my weekly jams, and I’m trying to find one that I want to highlight. AND none are speaking to me specifically for September…this is a problem. So I chose this stunning song because I love the sound and the lyrics too. And have you heard Grace Carter’s “Wicked Game”? Or this song that seems to slice my heart right open, even as it has cheerful sounding music? And this amazing instrumental?

Current Food:

6 Ice Cream Places to Visit in the South Hills of Pittsburgh

Guys, I’m hopelessly devoted to ice cream. Always have been, always will be. Sometimes, I theme my breakfasts off of ice cream! I’ve had people see a picture of my oatmeal and ask if it’s ice cream…I wouldn’t put that past me either. ICE CREAM FOR BREAKFAST.

Friend to me: “You talk about sugar more than anyone I know.”

Me: *shrug* “So ice cream?”

Current Read:

Have you ever seen Ever After? There’s this fabulous line in the movie where the prince asks Danielle if she has a favorite book, and her response is my absolute favorite. She croons, “I could no sooner choose a favorite star in the sky!”

I AGREE.

So naturally, I’m reading so many books at once…as per usual.

Current Obsession:

The other day I was driving down the road, wishing for a book to read (because I’d forgotten to stop at the library earlier in the week) when I saw this little library. It saved the day (or my week, really) because it offered me a book to read! And just look at its cheery, little nod to the UK with its red paint and telephone-booth shape!

Current Quote:

Thank you for this amazingness, @JoSaxton!

I feel this deep in my soul (and about twenty-million other quotes on Pinterest, ya feel?).

What’s Inspiring YOU?

6 Ice Cream Places in the South Hills of Pittsburgh

August 26, 2019 1 Comment

This summer I’ve been having fun trying a bunch of the ice cream places in the South Hills of Pittsburgh because why not!

Okay, it’s a truth universally known in my family that I love ice cream. A week or so ago, I asked my mom to go with me for ice cream, and I presented her with a list of options (actually all of the below). Her response made me laugh. She wrote, “I know you liked ice cream, but wow.”

Grab your wallet and head out to one of these 6 ice cream places in the South Hills of Pittsburgh!

Graeter’s

This famous brand surfaced into my social media world because they just opened a location in Castle Shannon. And their Instagram had me. And when National Ice Cream Day rolled around, I knew exactly where I was headed. I stood in the super long line, and I promised myself I’d get a single scoop cone. LIES. I ended up with a giant waffle cone with three separate flavors. Every lick and bit was delicious, and I totally recommend this option. Graeter’s offer inside and outdoor seating as well as a drive-through so you can enjoy your ice cream your way! They also have a food truck that I’ve seen at Farmer’s Markets, and you can sometimes find their pints in grocery stores.

My favorite ice cream to order is the Maple Cinnamon Crunch and Peach.

Kelley’s Dari Delite

Understated, underrated, and nestled into a shared parking lot with a car wash, Kelley’s Dari Delite is a must-have. Their list of hard serve ice creams is extensive (as well as their soft serve). I still remember my first visit when I casually chatted with a girl in line behind me, and she encouraged me to try the Cannoli ice cream. Hands down, one of my most favorite flavors to date! I have absolutely double fisted ice cream from Kelley’s Dari Delite.

My favorite ice cream to order is Cannoli, Queen of Hearts, and Birthday Cake.

Page’s Dari Mart

Page’s is so easy to miss because it’s at a busy intersection of East Carson and Becks Run Road, but as you drive by, you won’t miss the gigantic line that always marks this tiny ice cream shop. The line is NOT wrong. GET YOURSELF INTO THAT LINE. Page’s has some of the most amazing ice cream sundaes that I’ve ever had. One of the things I love about them is that they partner with a bunch of other Pittsburgh businesses for their cake and pastries. For example, their Raspberry Almond Torte Sundae is made with cake from Pastries-a-la-Carte, and mannnnn, that pastry shop does cakes, cookies, and pastries so well.

My favorite things to order include the Raspberry Almond Torte Sundae, the Cinnamon Bun Sundae, and the Almond Torte Cake Arctic Swirl.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream

Hidden in plain sight right off of Route 51, I’ve passed this ice cream place more times than I realized. And when I drove there recently, I still pretty much missed it, and I had to take the scenic route to finally park! Once again, this ice cream shop offers a whole range of ice cream options, and they boast being open ALL YEAR LONG, which is kind of a big deal since a few of these ice cream places close for the winter.

My favorite ice cream so far is the Ore-dough, which is a vanilla-based ice cream with cookie dough and crushed Oreos.

Sugar & Spice

This quaint ice cream parlor is full of nostalgia for me because I remember going there as a kid, and I just loved sitting at the ice cream counter within the store and staring at all the old knick-knacks. This ice cream shop also has an ice cream truck and candy store! My mom likes to shop at their Cake and Candy supply store for certain items.

My favorite ice cream to order from Sugar & Spice is strawberry!

The Milkshake Factory

The Birthday Cake Milkshake is good too!

While The Milkshake Factory may not seem like it belongs in this list of ice cream shops where I order ice cream sundaes and hard-scooped cones, I wanted to include it! After all, most of the above ice cream shops offer milkshakes too, and The Milkshake Factory does have ice cream sundaes. In the South Side location of The Milkshake Factory, make sure you look up at the red tiled ceiling. It’s one of the most beautiful and surprising features in a shop that’s decorated in blues and whites!

My favorite thing to order is the Fried Ice Cream Milkshake because I love the light cinnamon and honey flavors.

And here’s another delicious option (Insomnia Cookies)

Have you been to any of these ice cream places in the South Hills of Pittsburgh? Did I miss one? What’s your favorite thing to order?

The Trouble and Blessing of Transition

August 19, 2019 Leave a Comment

No one talks about the trouble of transition.

How when you sort through your worldly possessions and move them into piles and then into boxes and then into a vehicle—it’s like taking stock of your life.

Am I the sum of my possessions? What do my things say about my life? If a stranger had to do this for me, what would they learn about my life values and losses and loves?

The touching of things forgotten rediscover memories, associations, sadnesses, joys,…more than you meant to find. Most items hold a story that comes alive with a touch, and rather than just moving things into boxes, I’m moving stories. Whole stories. Whole stories are weighty.

This was supposed to be cut and dried. Physical things shoved into boxes and bags to be carried into the new home, but instead, memories tap the shoulder. Remember me? Remember when roommates giggled long into the night over cat videos? Remember holding this mug and crying into the dishwater on a random weeknight? Remember this blanket that used to be your swaddling hug in the midst of scary days when life seemed surely impossible when money was in the negative and the fridge stood empty?

And the journey of packing becomes intensely personal.

Or maybe that’s just me?

My things are a journal all their own. While to others, it’s just a chair. To me, it’s my haven for thinking, pondering, reading, and exploring my internal world. It’s morning’s consistent hug on winter days, and it’s the summer day’s spot for ice cream. How do things become memories?

Moving is tiring. Not only exhaustion by the physicality of constantly moving to condense a room into a cardboard box–but an unexpected emotional toll too.

Releasing stuff—like, “why in the world do I have this random thing that I never use?”

Choosing things, saying, “I don’t need this anymore, but its sentimental value is still important to me.” So you keep it. And that’s okay.

It’s not simple. The mental tallying of furniture, clothing, books—all demanding that decisions be made about where each goes so that it can be refound in the new space.

Whether you’re moving across town, states, or countries, a transition is a wearying work. It leaves you depleted, draped across a half-dismantled piece of furniture, heart-worn and internally tearful. It saps the sunshine joy from your bones when you come awake in the early hours of the day.

Settling into your new life and home demands your energy too. Finding a new home for each of your things—more decisions. Making new routines. It’s tough work, monotonous and boring, but oh so necessary. Wiggling your life into a new space–taking up room again–is overwhelming, especially when you can’t find things. You know you packed it, but where did it go?

So as you move through transition, whether it was your choice or not, be gentle with yourself.

Drink another cup of tea.

Check-in with your body in the morning.

Take a catnap.

Whatever you do, don’t rush yourself to be okay faster than you need to.