life (layhf) | this week's little things

It's been such a fantastic week and I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. With how busy and crazy life gets the holidays always remind me to take life a little slower. We all live a life  that feels like we're going at warp speed and we forget to soak up all the amazing things that surround us. While it is difficult to stop and embrace everything that life has to offer, the rare times we do are the ones we appreciate the most.

life (lahyf) | this week's little things

Why is it that moments captured in a picture are the most memorable and those we keep close to our hearts?  This past week after celebrating Liam's 1st birthday, I realized that we should always be living life the way they're portrayed in pictures.  So this week, while it might not be appreciating a little thing, it's remembering that you should never take the minutes you have in life for granted and to truly live life to the fullest.

Photo credit: Chris Sommers from Studio Craft

life (layhf) | this week's little things

Yes, I've been a little M.I.A. I realize that.  In between moving into our new place, adjusting to the change of lifestyle (even if it's only 5 miles away) and spending money on unforeseen home improvements, I've been a little pre-occupied. Not to mention that little Liam is turning 1 in a few weeks and I've got myself busy planning for one spectacular mustache bash!  Thankfully I can vent to friends like Johanna about home improvement woes and swap baby war stories.  Needless to say, even more now I'm appreciating the little things.  While my commute to work is 20 minutes longer than it was before, I actually have time to read.  It's a small amount of time every day, but at least I can dedicate some time to it.

life (layhf) | this week's little things

All week we've been scrambling to pack because we finally bought our first place!  It only took 32 years, but we take another huge leap as a family.  While we will miss the South Loop and the convenience of having friends in the neighborhood it's time to explore a new part of the city.  As I was packing I found a Friendship Journal that was given to me as a gift back in 2005.  I only filled in 30 or so pages in it, highlighting all the great traits of people I'm still lucky enough to call friends.  I contemplated ditching the journal completely, but instead I decided to move forward and fill the rest of the pages.  There is something about handwritten letters, journals or cards that just have more sentimental meaning and in my mind if you put it in ink - it means something to you.

So this week, the little thing that I'm appreciating are moments in writing. While we all sometimes fall in and out of friendship somewhat easily, the memories you write about are the ones you want to remember forever.

|What little things happened to you that made your week?|

life (layhf) | this week's little things

Life goes by so fast and sometimes the best thing that happens in my week is when I can slow down to appreciate the moments I completely overlook.  Have a wonderful weekend and be sure to soak up every amazing moment of it.

life (layhf) | this week's little things

When I moved to Chicago almost 6 years ago I was introduced to this wonderful condiment known as Giardinara.  This did not exist on the west coast.  How did I live my first 26 years of life not knowing this existed?  This week I indulged in my favorite condiment and for a brief moment it made me appreciate our move to Chicago that much more, because if we hadn't, I would have never known a life with this perfect condiment. :)

|What are your little things? Share pictures of the little things that made your week a bit better using #thisweekslittlethings & you will be featured in next week's this week's little things blog post!|

life (layhf) | this week's little things

This has been a great week.  I finally feel like I'm back to a normal schedule and most importantly I've finally caught up with some of my favorite Friends...in real life and on TV.  Luckily for me, a lot of my friends have the same passion for the show Friends and it's one of those situations where one word in our conversation triggers a quote from the show then continues into a domino effect.  It's a problem, we know, but one that always has us laughing.  No matter how hectic life is, an episode of Friends will always remind me to appreciate the funny moments in life.

|What little things happened to you this week?  If you follow me on Instagram, share the little things that happened in your week using #thisweekslittlethings and they can be used as part of a future post (with your permission of course).|

life (layhf) | this week's little things

This week was truly exhausting with a lot of personal and work stuff that kept me busy, but a little bit of nostalgic pleasure from a box of Cracker Jacks helped me through it.

|What little thing happened to you that made your week?|

life (layhf) | this week's little things

I've been a little, alright A LOT, MIA the past 2 weeks and that's because my wonderful husband took me on a fabulous Eurocation to Vienna, Croatia and Barcelona.  While I'm working on my recap, I'm truly appreciating my husband.  Not only because of the amazing trip he booked for us, but for always keeping his promise of taking care of us through sickness and health.

|What is the little thing that made your week?|

life (layhf) | this week's little things

life (layhf) | this week's little things

Each week I feel like there is a theme and the inspirational moments come to me at the most random times.  This week's little things are truly inspired by friendship.  A call, an email, a text message, a letter (all that are non-work related of course) - think about how each form of communication from a friend can make your day.  Now think about how much more meaningful it is when it's someone you haven't heard from in a long time or someone that you thought would be an unlikely friend.  It's moments like those that make my week.  Don't you just love when the un-expected pleasantly surprises you?

|What little things happened to you that made your week?|