Snow Exhaustion and a much needed Stay-cation

Exhaustion is defined as extreme weakness or fatigue. Last week, I must say, the snow left me with quite a bit of fatigue. Everything seemed to take longer, be held up or be down right cancelled at the last minute because of the snow. Not only that, but if you did show up to anything, it seemed like you were the only one! Why fight the lesson from the snow so much, you ask? I am not really sure, but that is what I had done at the beginning of last week. I thought, just keep moving forward, just keep trying to get stuff done, which left me with quite a bit of fatigue; when really the snow was just reminding us the whole time to just... slow... down. 

So over the weekend I engaged in a much needed Stay-cation ( a vacation where you stay in your home town but do fun things and stay away from all things work related). I had the privilege of spending some time with some wonderful people that I love as well as allowing time for fun and relaxation, which, when you pursue an independent creative lifestyle as a career, can sometimes be put on the back burner with all of your projects. 

Allowing time for fun and friends is probably the most necessary aspect of human health, but in our society that applauds busy-ness as a sign of accomplishment, it can easily be neglected. Especially, when you are me, a person with workaholic perfectionist tendencies. Yes, I said it... it may be more true than I would like to admit. Though, this time allowed is healthy for the soul and the artist inside that has been covered up with loads of busy tasks that feel like accomplishment, but are really not. So, I relaxed with friends and it was marvelous!

We engaged in some much needed thrift store browsing at one of our favorite spots, an old converted school gym in the middle of... well, Jupiter, NC.

There is nothing like enjoying the random collections found in thrift stores and it is only $4.00/bag of clothes and $3.00/box of books!

Later that evening we hit up Kathmandu Cafe for some Himalayan food, which was delicious! Then we picked up some last minute rush tickets to see Time For Three in Downtown. This group, composed of two violins and one bass, was amazing! All three met at the Curtis School and describe themselves as "a classically trained garage band". Please, check them out, the experience was truly amazing and I cannot wait for the opportunity to hear them again. Their arrangements were brilliant and unbelievably played. I couldn't believe what these guys were doing with their instruments, it seemed super human. 

Later that night we enjoyed some hot cocoa and a chick flick, nice ending to a wonderful day. The next morning we had some pancakes and coffee and lazed about until it was time to hit the Fine Arts Theatre downtown where we saw the psychological thriller, "Black Swan". Well done film, very intense. 

This is an independently owned theatre and is an amazing place to see a film, a truly inspiring environment in which to experience cinema.

I look relaxed because this is before I saw the movie, it was intense and I probably didn't look so chill afterwards. The popcorn was incredible, though!

We then did things backwards, because when you are an adult you can do things like that, and went for ice cream before dinner. I truly recommend doing this if you never have before, both taste better.

Good film then my favorite food.

After a good film and some good food we perused a book store for a bit then headed home after an amazing stay-cation weekend. Even though we stayed in our home town the whole time. It was truly inspiring and truly fun. I am going to continue this tradition by setting up artist dates for myself. I have already overbooked my time for this upcoming week, but maybe next week I'll chill out and set aside some art date time.