world's best to-do list

Image here, via my Pinterest

It's my last day of work, peeps! Let the packing (and beach-going and popsicle eating) commence!

no. 6

Getting lost in the act of creating

helps me feel calm and whole.

See all posts in this series here.

(Image via; original source unknown.)

breathe deep, and remember:

Image here, via my Pinterest

adventures in absence

Image via

Ahhh sweet sweet summertime! I'm not quite feeling it yet -- still a couple more days of work before I board my flight to Nepal . . . right in the middle of monsoon season! Guess I didn't plan that so well, eh? Rainy days aside, I don't think it will really fell like summer until I've landed safely in Chicago and am sitting on my parents porch, sipping something chilly and staring at the trees. 

I am SO. CLOSE.

In the meantime, I've been showing a dear friend from the States all around Abu Dhabi. We've been to Liwa, Al Ain, Dubai, and back, which has meant considerable time behind the wheel for me. I'd been relying on Andy to do most of the driving before, so it feels especially good knowing I can navigate my city (and the entire Emirate!) and still arrive home safely and in one piece.

Behind the wheel in the desert | Photo courtesy of Maria

Wandering around the Liwa | Photo courtesy of Maria

Oh yeah, did I forget to mention? Andy has been back in the U.S. since mid-June, working for a small aviation company outside Chicago. So thankful for good friends and plenty of last minute adventures to help fill the void left by his absence.

Speaking of, sorry for my inadvertent absence lately! I've loved keeping this blog in recent months, and hopefully I'll be back on the wagon with regular posts very soon.