mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , ,

Happy Wednesday! What are you up to this week? My best-friend Katie is coming to visit tomorrow (squee!) and I can’t wait to show off our new area. I’m ready for some summertime activities and a healthy dose of gossip. Hope you have a great rest of your week, and follow the links below if you’d like to loiter online a little longer…

This made me laugh out loud.

Strawberry cheesecake popsicles for a homemade summertime treat.

I love this blog post that tells the real story behind the beautiful wedding photos.

A sweet pin.

I have mixed feelings about this.

19 quick and easy weeknight dinners.

On my reading list.

Well-behaved women make history too.

My summer mood in a nutshell.

More women in the U.S. live alone than ever before.

How to feed the resistance.

7 ideas for random acts of kindness when the world feels like a dumpster fire.

P.S. A couple Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Two Poems and A Simple Cure.

How Much Can I Fit in the Nomatic Compression Cube?

Travel, , , , , , , ,

The one item that has changed my travel game the most? Packing cubes. Seriously, if you’ve never used one of these space saving devices…do yourself a favor! Since making this life-changing discovery, I’ve tried a few different kinds. But today, I’d like to put the NOMATIC COMPRESSION CUBE to the test. Let’s see what I can stuff inside!

The NOMATIC COMPRESSION CUBE is made of rip-stop nylon so it is super durable and strong. What sets it apart from the other cubes I’ve tried is that it has two compartments. Not only that, there’s an extra zipper in the middle that helps compress everything down!

The double compartment could be useful for a few different things — keeping dirty and clean clothes separate, organizing by type of clothes, or even a side per person if you’re a super minimal couple!

When the packing cube is full it is about 5 1/2 inches tall. However, by zipping the central perimeter zipper, that number can shrink down by about 2 inches! What?! The overall size of the cube is roughly 10 1/2 by 8 inches. For perspective, I have PURSES bigger than that!

Let’s pack some stuff up!

I tried to include some bulkier items that I might not normally take if I was one-bag traveling — like heavy duty yoga pants and jammy pants.

Here’s what I fit inside:

1 sundress
1 button down shirt
1 pair of yoga pants
2 t-shirts
1 pair of denim shorts
1 set of jammies (t-shirt and pants)
3 pairs of underwear
and 1 pair of ankle socks

The middle zipper is what makes it a compression cube!

Now for the most important question! Does it fit in my Tom Bihn Synapse 19?

My hope was that it would sit at the bottom of the bag like this!

Success! (You could honestly stack two in there!)

Look at all that room! Plenty of space for my laptop, another packing cube (or two!) and a toiletry bag. Plus, all the other pockets of the Tom Bihn are free for other goodies. If I were packing for an actual trip (instead of just experimenting), I would probably use the NOMATIC for everyday clothes (maybe tops on one side and bottoms on the other?) and use a smaller packing cube for underwear, socks, jammies, and workout clothes.

Which would mean I could fit A LOT of outfits in a NINETEEN LITER bag.

Final verdict – This is a fantastic packing cube for smaller backpacks! The compression zipper really does a lot to bring the bulk down and double sides is super handy. This little baby holds a LOT!

ORDER YOUR OWN NOMATIC COMPRESSION CUBE HERE. 

P.S. Read some other TRAVEL posts from FINDING DELIGHT:
Heroclip Review
Great YouTube Channel for Travel Inspo
7 Travel Tips for Airports & Planes

The Totally Random Instagram Accounts I Follow

Personal, , , , ,

So it’s been over a month since my last round-up of Instagram accounts you should “totally follow” but I promised you one more post and one more post you shall receive. I present to you: The TOTALLY RANDOM folks I personally follow. Whatta ya say? Wanna see who fills my feed (& my heart!)?

[Besides the FOODIES and the CELEBS and the BLOGGERS!]

Let’s Scroll —

eriqlasalle … because the OG cast of ER is life.

bustle … for the relatable memes.

marachok … for my obsession with all things Russian ballet.

usweekly … following has drastically reduced my urge to buy trash magazines (+ they have “Who Wore it Better” polls in their IG stories and I can’t resist that).

ownitbabe … sometimes even the most curated of social media feeds needs a shot of body positivity!

femalecollective … girl power!

todaypuppy … this is an obvious one, right?

90sanxiety … oh those nostalgia feels are strong.

cheapoldhouses … because I like to pretend I’m someone who could flip a house.

miamidadepubliclibrary … i’m a sucker for their book stack posts.

westelm … home decor #goals.

natgeo … because the magazine is my fave!

and way, WAY too many more!

Leave one random Instagram account you follow in the comments below. (And you can follow yours truly at BBerg1012!)

Etsy Store Swoon: Clare Elsaesser

Style and Design, , , , , ,

These are a few of my favorite prints from the fantastic Etsy shop, which I’ve been swooning over for weeks — Clare Elsaesser. The women floating through or wading into water and carrying armloads of colorful flowers give the paintings a beautiful ethereal quality. But the little details, like a messy top knot or a polka dot print, combined with the obstructed face, make it seem as though these portraits could be anyone. Does that make sense? Wouldn’t you love to hang one in your home? I’m obsessed.

Print 1 // Print 2 // Print 3 // Print 4 // Print 5

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you up to this week? My mom headed back to Kentucky on Monday. I keep thinking about the immigrant families being separated against their will at our border and I feel ever more grateful and blessed to have a parent who is just a day’s drive away. We had a wonderful visit…even if we got a little lost while out on a hike. Whoops!

Sending a big hug to anyone reading this, and here are some links for you to check out…

The fall of New York and the urban crisis of affluence.

How to get Anine Bing’s bright and airy decor style.

S-Town is being turned into a movie.

The reasons why women’s voices are deeper today.

Is it weird I kinda want to start rocking a fanny pack?

“Liz Phair taught me everything about being a grown up.”

Who wants to book this “Craftsman Charmer” for a vacay in Nashville?

This natural deodorant looks promising.

A busy mom and recipe tester shares her favorite $10 meals.

5 people on why they code switch.

And finally,

Absolutely haunting.

Jesus wouldn’t put children in cages.

PLEASE — Call your congresspeople. Volunteer. Donate. Protest.

Because, in the words of Hillary Clinton – “There’s no such thing as other people’s children.” There are simply children.

Entryway Wish List

Home, Style and Design, , , , , , , , ,

Where do you focus your design-energy in your home? There are the obvious spaces — like creating a zen-like bathroom or a kitchen that feels cozy enough for guests to gather around the table. But lately, I’ve been feeling inspired to add a little of my aesthetic to our new entryway. As I mentioned in this post, it’s the first design project I’d like to tackle in our new abode. After all, it’s the first thing folks see when they walk in your house!

So far, I’ve got these hooks hung and a runner rug laid out. (Shout out to my mom for choosing the rug!) I took to Amazon to track down some other pieces that are now wish listed for the project …

This shelf, sitting long-ways, can display my bits and bobs, but also offers a storage solution by tucking a basket or two in the bottom cubbies.

A director floor lamp to cast an inviting glow.

I could add texture by sticking an oversized plant in the mix and housing it in one of these mid-century modern planters.

Ya gotta have a mirror so you can check your look before leaving.

And maybe a large print in a gold frame for the DRAMA.

Finally, I’d like to add this piece to my bar cart (which is what you see as you walk down my self-created entryway) because I’ve considered tons of small wine racks and I always land back at this one.

For little touches – I’m all about a giant candle with sweet matches at the ready, succulents nestled in terra cotta pots, and maybe a thrifted crate to house muddy shoes.

How have you decorated your entryway? Tell me in the comments! 

P.S. Since we’re renting this home, I’m following these tips.

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you up to this week? My mom is coming to visit on Friday!!! We’ll be showing her around our new town and hanging out in the backyard. Ah, Summer! Hope you have a great one, and here are some internet gems for your mid-week pleasure…

The difference between being broke and being poor.

How our body’s circadian clocks affect our health beyond sleep.

I was pretty crushed by the passing of Anthony Bourdain this past week. Here are a couple articles related –

Thank you, Anthony Bourdain.

Anthony  Bourdain and the power of telling the truth.

Plus, this piece Bourdain wrote about his father in 2012 is worth revisiting.

Can’t stop watching these “Vocal Coach Reacts…” videos.

I recently got one of these minimalist wallets and I would highly recommend!

Why are Russians so good at ballet?

On time management – “People will come to you with their problems and imply that you’re the only one who can solve them. This is almost never true.”

Check out Serena Williams’ new fashion line.

Love a funky pair of yoga pants.

This community activist pushes the food justice movement beyond raised beds, food pantries, new supermarkets, and white leadership.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Empowerment Walking and 8 Tips for Settling Into a New Home.

Forget whistling…SMILE while you work!

Career, Every day life, , , , ,

When it comes to enjoying our daily lives, often it’s the smallest things that have the most positive impact. Earning your paycheck after working for two weeks is great, but that smile and warm hug from someone you helped could make your entire week (and more!). These little moments are the things to truly live for. They can help us stay positive and learn to find delight.

For this reason, I’d love to know – how many things make you smile in a day? Would counting them somehow impede your natural tendency to smile? Would simply adding more things in your life to help you do so improve your life even in the small matters? There are many things to give you that toothy grin, but the following can help:

Something To Love

It’s important to keep something you love around you at all times. Of course, family is usually the first thing people think of when the word ‘love’ comes to mind, and so in these instances, it might be worth keeping a picture of your loved ones on your work desk or kicking it old school with some wallet-sized prints.

Continually reminding yourself of who you love in any given day might not only feel wonderful, but it can help you remember the reason for your daily efforts in the first place. Experience a bad day at work? Simply seeing your newlywed wife’s photograph might help you get through it that little bit easier. 

Something To Excite

It’s important to stay excited in life. This might mean looking forward to a vacation, becoming part of a new community, or anticipating the moment you break a fitness PR in the gym after work. When you have things to look forward to, you will feel much more infused with positive energy, and it also helps you stay engaged in the world around you.

Something To Laugh

Something that makes you laugh can be essential to keeping your mindset happy and open. Laughter has the wonderful ability to connect people and help them forget their issues. This might be as simple as telling your boyfriend a silly joke from time to time, checking out stand-up comedy and finding some favorites in that field, or spicing up your office with things that help you crack a grin. (These novelty desk plates are always a crowd favorite.) Laughter shows us that the world isn’t as self-serious as we thought, and can honestly lift our spirits quite unlike everything else. 

What little things make you smile throughout your day? Do you consider yourself a happy person? Do you think surrounding yourself with things to love, excite, and laugh about would make you a more effective worker? Why or why not?

We moved! (+ an empty house tour)

Home, Personal, Style and Design, , , , , ,

Hi friends! I am finally coming up for air after our big move to Alabama!! I certainly didn’t mean to be absent from the blogosphere for this many days… But between the multi-day drive (our movers were SUPER late and that put us behind schedule), getting settled in the new house, AND going without internet for the first week (obvi not by choice!!)–it’s taken me a minute to get back in the swing of things!

But now I’m back! And comin’ atcha from a sweet lil blue-doored house on a quiet road in Alabama. While our furniture arrived just a day after we did (the moving company told us it could take as many as 7!), I thought it might be fun to show ya around the place as we saw it on our first day. *Apologies in advance for the poor photo quality and lighting.*

Living Room

We brought our tv and a couple camp chairs just in case our furniture didn’t arrive right away. Now that our couch is here, it is oriented in much the same way (but the tv is on a stand and up against the wall, lol). I’ve chosen to use the space you see behind Chet as a sort of entryway.

Kitchen

The kitchen is super bright and open with room for a table and chairs beneath a window. And can we talk about that subway tile? Obsessed. The storage space is a little lacking compared to our last place but we’ve gotten creative with solutions — including getting one of these guys to fill up some open wall space. Wink likes the flooring. 😉

Chet’s Office / Guest Room #1

This closet situation means the master bedroom closet is ALL MINE! Mwahahaha! This room is at the front of the house with all sorts of beautiful trees right outside the windows.

My Office / Guest Room #2

I can’t tell you how excited I am to have a space for my desk/computer that isn’t about a foot from where I sleep at night!!! This room looks out at the backyard and is bright and quiet and as far away from our bedroom as possible (work from home WIN!).

Laundry

Another huge upgrade for us? Our very own washer and dryer right behind those closet doors! (The open door is the guest bathroom.) Sure our apartment in Miami had access to laundry facilities on every floor but a) it was $3.00 to wash and dry a load and b) everyone and their mom wants to do laundry on Sunday afternoons…and now I won’t have to wait my turn.

Master Bedroom

Finally, our master bedroom! This room proved to be a bit of a conundrum once our bedroom suite arrived. It is very rectangular and I’ve only ever set the furniture up in more square spaces. So, the bed and dresser have to go side by side. Not sure I love it…but the movers assured me lots of people do it this way, LOL! I DO love the room though…and that giant closet.

And there you have it! While much of our furniture and *stuff* is set up at this point, there’s still a long way to go when it comes to decorating! The first area I want to tackle is the entryway as you come into the house through the front door. Shall I show you an update once it’s complete???

Oh, and since I have home decor on the brain, I’d love to know —

Where do you go online for home decor inspiration? Any favorite blogs or YouTube channels? Any tips for decorating a home on a budget? What are your favorite stores? LEAVE IDEAS BELOW! I’d appreciate it a lot! ❤ 

mid-week round-up

Wednesday Links, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What are you up to this week? Tomorrow we’re hittin’ the road for our big move to Alabama! I’m so excited that moving day is finally so close. Getting ready for a move (especially one you’re super stoked about) just seems to drag on and on. We’ve been slowly packing and cleaning and tying up loose ends ever since we found out about the new job so I am READY. Next time I post we’ll be in the new place! Wish us luck. xoxo

Michelle Obama released the cover of her upcoming memoir.

The Great British Bake Off is secretly a show about time management.

This fully functional 140 square foot London studio is micro-living at it’s dreamiest!

Super cute bathing suit cover up, if you’re in the need.

Serious bedroom goals. (I can’t wait to decorate our room in the new place!)

These sweet potato wedges would make the perfect side dish to summer BBQ mains.

Why do American women refuse to give up tampons?

In trying to read up about politics in my soon-to-be home state, I stumbled upon these 18 candidates.

Family and community are the only things left in Adams County, Ohio.

Justine Kurland’s timeless photos of runaway girls.

I love the antique americana look of these 4th of July decor pieces.

One woman’s journey from coma to consciousness.

P.S. A few Finding Delight posts you may have missed — Bloggers Share Letters to Their Younger Selves and Picturesque Fruit Plates.