- Stephanie 6 Comments

Life in Photographs

When was the last time you printed out a photo? Before cell phones and digital cameras, I remember the disposable camera. Each camera contained film for 18-22 photos, so I had to snap wisely! I remember waiting patiently day after day for my pictures to develop. I couldn’t wait to open them up and look at each photo one by one. Most of the photos would be placed in albums, but a select few would make it onto my shelf of frames or around my dresser mirror.  I have always loved surrounding myself with moments and memories.

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- Stephanie 23 Comments

A Is For Autumn

Autumn is upon us!! The air is feeling crisper, the leaves are beginning to turn, and orchards are opening up their gates for apple picking with a side of cider and donuts!  There are so many pieces of this season that make my heart happy and inspired. I am excited to share my A-Z list of what I am most looking forward to during this enchanting time of year!

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- Stephanie 13 Comments

Citrus & Sun Moments August ’18 Edition

Summer is winding down, and there has already been talk of the Pumpkin Spice Latte making its grand appearance! While I cannot WAIT for fall (it’s my favorite seasons!!!), August has been all about soaking up the last waves of summer as I get back into teaching. I’m excited to share my 5 Citrus & Sun Moments with you from this month! Scroll down to the bottom of the post to check out my August playlist — these songs have been on repeat all month!

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- Stephanie 28 Comments

Turn Up Your Song — It’s My Favorite

Do you have a passion in your life that makes your soul come alive?  Does surrounding yourself with this one thing inspire you and awaken a unique energy inside of you that you can hardly contain? Music has been a lifelong passion in my life for the reasons I mentioned above. This post is about the abandonment of this passion, and how its presence returned stronger than ever in a moment that I will never forget.

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- Stephanie 13 Comments

Citrus & Sun Moments: July ’18 Edition

How is your summer going?? July is by far my favorite month of the season.  In this edition of Citrus & Sun Moments I’m sharing my favorite spot to write in Chicago, my incredible sunrise experience (+ pictures), the recipe for the best Sangria I’ve ever tasted, and more! Scroll down to the bottom of the post to listen to my summer tracks that I can’t stop listening to this month on my July playlist!

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- Stephanie 16 Comments

Intention For The Day: Good Vibes Only

The morning is an important part of the day. How we begin those first few minutes after we awaken can set the tone for the hours to follow. Many of us hit the ground running at full speed.  From the moment we drift back to reality and our eyes flutter open, we are bombarded with thoughts and demands. While the thought of a busy day can make mornings overwhelming, setting an intention is one addition to our AM routine that could bring good vibes all day long!

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- Stephanie 18 Comments

9 Lessons I Learned From Mother Nature

Our world is buzzing with information.  Information from the internet, from the news, social media, podcasts, the radio.  Some of it’s helpful and some of it’s not.  But I promise you, the buzz that you get when you are enveloped in the outside world will always teach you something positive and useful. Mother Nature is trying to teach us every single day!  All we need to do is look around and pay close attention.

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- Stephanie 26 Comments

Citrus & Sun Moments: June ’18 Edition

Happy summer, my friends!!!  I have been so thankful for these long days and warm nights. Anyone else??  In this edition of Citrus & Sun Moments, I am sharing my appreciation for yoga and meditation, my recently discovered love for photography, and why I am never taking off my new cowboy boots. Plus, scroll down to the bottom of this post to check out my June playlist!

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- Stephanie 24 Comments

Citrus & Sun Moments: May ’18 Edition

May is in full swing and summer is on its way!  In this edition of Citrus & Sun Moments, I am sharing about my newfound love for essential oils, how The Cranberries (yes, the 90’s band) saved my daily commute, and my excitement for those incoming summer vibes taking over Chicago!  I’m also sharing my May playlist which includes all of the songs that I can’t stop listening to this month!

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- Stephanie 19 Comments

The Thing About Spring

I know that it has officially been spring for almost two months now, but to me it feels like the season has only just arrived! Chuck and I spent our wedding anniversary weekend in Traverse City, Michigan this past week,  and it seemed as if the world was only just beginning to wake up from its long winter slumber.  The thing I have learned about spring is that if you blink . . . you might just miss the best parts of its performance.

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- Stephanie 19 Comments

Sip Mindfully: The Tea Experience

I have always loved drinking tea, but rarely do I sit down to actually enjoy it, especially throughout the week when its sole purpose is to keep my eyes open.  It hasn’t been until recently that I have considered how I can use tea to create a moment in my day that is mindful and purposeful. Tea has the power to make you feel calm, energized, awake, relaxed, and even rejuvenated!  I’m so excited to share with you my newly discovered mindful approach to tea drinking with the help of some very special people!!

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- Stephanie 30 Comments

Citrus & Sun Moments: April ’18 Edition

Happy April, friends! I am so excited to be starting a new monthly series on my blog! Introducing Citrus & Sun Moments, a monthly post where I will be sharing a little more about my life, my current favorites and inspirations, and a monthly playlist! The purpose of this blog is to find energy and meaning in small moments or things in your daily life and I want to share some of mine with you each month! Let’s get to know each other better and bond over life’s experiences and daily happenings!

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- Stephanie 21 Comments

Creating a Vision Board With Intention

I have always loved documenting my days and experiences with images and words.  Growing up I was always someone who had their notebooks in school covered with pictures, magazine clippings, and inspirational quotes.  There was always something so encouraging about seeing all of those pictures and phrases that represented how I felt inside. Reminiscing on my magazine-clipping days and reflecting on how much those images brightened my daily life inspired me to create a similar space for my current goals and passions: a vision board!

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- Stephanie 36 Comments

How To Use Mindful Listening in Everyday Life

In order to put our listening skills into action, we must be present.  Eliminate distractions.  Look the other person in the eye.  Clear our minds and focus on what is being said. Easier said than done, right? Listening can sometimes be an abstract idea.  How can we stay focused in this fast-paced world? How do we manage our emotions and our ideas when they differ from another person’s thoughts? The language of listening comes down to 3 essentials: our brain, our heart, and our courage.

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