On friendship.

There are transitions in life that are just plain hard. Things that cause us pain that we can't really avoid.

While it is so wonderful being married to and living with Taylor, who has pretty much been my "best friend" by all definitions for the last however long we've been together, I still feel very lonely and often like I'm lacking a whole lot of friends. We were sort of the first to really "move away," although it's only forty minutes or so, it feels like a long way away.

I miss the fifteen girls I spent everyday with in college (my teammates). I miss the van rides where sometimes you cracked jokes and sometimes you shared your secrets. I miss going into the room next door and knowing one of my very best friends will be in there. I miss having them ask me what to wear. I miss doing every one's hair for big events. I miss knowing that if I really needed to talk about something only a female would understand, there was someone there to listen. I miss commiserating about our bodily aches and pains.

I know our friendships were far from perfect, but they just felt so much closer than they do now, before 40 miles of I-5 separated us.

I've always struggled with female friendships. I grew up with brothers and I have a hard time relating to my female peers. I feel like I've never been a particularly great friend. I don't share well. I doubt that I appear emotionally accessible. I never did the dishes. Sometimes I think other people don't want to share things with me because I pretend like I'm perfect and have it all together. I usually don't tell people close to me the intimate details of my life unless I'm having a crisis. I have a very difficult time expressing how I really feel about people, I'm not a great small talker and I'm not the best at just going along with whatever everyone else is doing.

But I also think I have a lot to offer as a friend. I'm loyal to a fault, I care deeply about the people in my life, I'm a good gift-giver, a great shopping buddy and I love to work on projects. I REALLY want to connect to other people, I just have a hard time doing it. I've always wanted a bosom friend, for all you Anne of Green Gables fans out there, and though I have lots people I get along with smashingly, since I was little (hi Rach!) there's never been that one friend I could truly believe was "best." While I realize the idea of a "best" friend might be just as unrealistic as a "one true love," I still wish for it.

I really hope this post comes out right, and doesn't put blame on anyone, because I don't think that there is blame to place. I just want to express how hard it is when important relationships in your life transition and you don't know what to do with it. When you want to feel close to people and be in their lives, but you just don't know how.

Loungewear is my kryptonite.

When it comes to getting dressed, I like to consider myself able to put a decent outfit together. Sometimes even a great outfit. I feel confident in what I"m wearing probably 4-5 days a week and (in case you didn't already know) I LOVE to shop.

Well, everyone has a weakness. Something they are completely unable to put together/wear/shop for, etc. For me, it's cute loungewear. And honestly, I can't really decided if this is all that important to me. No one sees me except my poor husband (perhaps that's reason enough to improve) and especially when I work out in the evenings, I just have no motivation to sport some super cute lounge-y outfit. I mean we're supposed to be comfortable at home, right? My days of big baggy sweat suits in college have carried over into my "grown-up" life.

Here's what I'm usually wearing on a weeknight:

A t-shirt, sweats and slippers from Grandma. These are my "cute" sweats by the way.

Or maybe something like this:

College bball t-shirt, shorty sweats (I have like 5 pairs) and if I'm working out, running shoes.

Well, if I've learned anything from Stacey and Clinton, it's that you can be comfortable and stylish at the same time! I'm not talking about running shorts, etc. for actual working out, because people I'm not compromising there, but on a week night/weekend when I'm just hanging out at home doing chores or something of the like.

So, here are some cute, comfy ideas that would help me class up my loungewear wardrobe.

These sweatshirt/tops from Target are warm, comfy and loose fitting, but still tailored enough to provide a more put-together look. Black or grey, take your pick!

Target, $29.99.

Target, $29.99.

Next, I found these glorious lounge pants at Anthropologie (are we sensing a theme in my life lately?). They look almost like a pair of chinos, but are a cotton/spandex blend. I feel relaxed just looking at them.

Anthropologie, $48.00.

Although I've been known to wear my leggings as pants every now and then, I usually pair them with a longer shirt or sweater. However, if it was just around the house, I might feel more confident wearing these leggings on their own with a tank and zip-up maybe?

Gap Body, $29.50.

And last but not least, I've been dying for some men's pajamas ever since I saw Coco Before Chanel with Miss Whit. Aren't these ones adorable?

J.Crew, $69.50.

What do y'all wear around the house? Do you dress like a bum, or are you casual chic?

Finding the positives.

Sometimes you just have a BLAH day. On days like these, I have a tendency to have minor crisis' and reevaluate my entire life, resulting in a string of days where I feel lost, inadequate and disappointed. So, instead of going through all that hullabaloo today, I decided it was just how I was feeling and if I focused on some positive things, got some stuff done when I got home and tried to remember to breathe, I'd be just fine.

Here are some of the pretty little things that helped brighten my day.

Latte bowls from Anthro.

Letter mugs from Anthro.

Laundry sign (which will be hung over the laundry room door) from Anthro.

New stripy sweater from Anthro, because it's FREEZING and apparently I threw out all my winter clothes over the summer. I'm sure there was a good reason...

This is what I would look like if I were a shirt. Green happiness brought to you by Anthropologie.

Okay, who are we kidding, this entire post brought to you by Anthropologie.

How were your weekends loves? Are you ready for Christmas!? It's ALMOST here!