Posts tagged as:

marriage

Goodbye 27, Hello 28

by Corinne on June 20, 2010

*Update: I woke up this morning to birthday roses and bagels. Best husband ever.

Tomorrow I say goodbye to my 27th year. I’m making a list of all the things I want to leave behind from the past twelve months and making another list of what I’m bringing with me for my 28th year. I’ll rip up the list of stuff I want to let go and I’ll share the things I want to keep here (I learned this handy trick from Kris).

In no particular order, here’s the good stuff I’m packing for my 28th year of life:

1. Nurturing my house and my marriage, two things that bring me more joy that I could have ever imagined.

2. Working with my literary agent, Rebecca, to make my novel better each day. I’m so excited about the journey we’re on with this book. The future is bright:)

3. Creating innovative and inspiring projects with my super bosses, Kris and Brian.

4. Valuing my health and happiness by exercising and eating delicious and nourishing foods (most of the time).

5. Putting fun first once in a while and not taking myself too seriously.

6. Tending to my relationships with inspiring and positive people, while meeting new friends and colleagues along the way.

7. Staying open to change and limitless possibilities.

Thank you to everyone who has commented on my blog this year and to anyone who takes the time to stop by and read about my journey. I can’t wait to see what my 28th year brings!

xo,
Corinne

Tagged as: birthday, books, Crazy Sexy Life, home, Kris Carr, literary agent, marriage, novel, Writing & Editing

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Home Sweet Home

by Corinne on May 24, 2010

Visiting my in-laws is always a nostalgic experience. They’ve lived in the same house since they got married 35 years ago and their home has been my sanctuary for more than half my life. I wandered into Steve’s room on Saturday morning and couldn’t help but smile. It would be impossible to sum up the number of memories stirred when I see the relics of our high school years still living happily in his childhood room.

In a cardboard box near the door I saw a piece of faded poster board poking out. It was Steve’s parent’s “Just Married” sign, dated 1974. Across the room, next to the window, sat a small wooden box carved with hearts. I had given it to Steve one Valentine’s Day when we were in high school. After smelling coffee brewing downstairs, I returned to the kitchen. Steve sat at the table, pouring over old photos, some dating back three generations in his family. We examined each picture, sometimes laughing, sometimes asking his mom or dad to tell us more about that day. There was nothing I would have rather spent my time doing and I’ll always be thankful to have had the chance to learn more about my husband’s heritage.

Later that afternoon, we had lunch with my father-in-law and stopped at Abbott’s so he and Steve could enjoy their (famous) frozen custard. While walking to Charlotte beach, passing pavilions packed with birthday parties and barbeques on the way, Steve and I talked about stopping there after our prom more than a decade ago. When we saw the carousel, we all commented on how much our new baby neice might enjoy it this summer for the first time. And as I snapped this photo of Steve and his Dad, I couldn’t help but feel how magical it was to record that day. I imagined sharing the photo in the future and hoped that seeing it later would remind me of how much these moments matter.

Tagged as: family, marriage, memories, photos, Rochester NY, traveling

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The “I’ll be happy when X happens” Syndrome

by Corinne on May 16, 2010

It’s funny when I think back to how many times I’ve said something like, “I’ll be happy when…” or “Everything with be okay when…” Then I get to that moment and realize that although reaching milestone “X” may be exciting and enriching, the rest of my life is still the same. I’m still the same person with the same baggage and there are usually a new set of circumstances to deal with that are intimidating.

I’ve dealt with this in various ways throughout my life. In graduate school I spent most nights at a bar and those two years are kind of blurry. I wasn’t aligned with the path I had taken and instead of choosing another path, I numbed myself with booze and cigarettes. Then I got sober for two years, married my husband and made a lot of painful, but necessary changes in my life. It was ROUGH and I was scared, but I just lived through it.

I’m still not someone who can doze off on a Saturday afternoon or sit in the backyard and soak up the sun (without my laptop and SPF 100), but I’ve embraced things like yoga, spirituality, writing, and long walks to create peace between the peaks in life. You see, I get addicted to the peaks. For example, I love being up against a tight deadline when it comes to my writing. I get into a zone where it’s all I think about and I write for days. I love being consumed by this, but I’ve realized that in order to lead a balanced life, it’s just as important to flip the coin and chill out.

I’m trying to make the valleys just as important as the peaks. The “I’ll be happy when X happens” way of thinking discredits 99% of life. Instead of feeling impatient because I’m waiting to hear about X or Y, I make a list of things I can do during this time that I’ll enjoy. I might be writing an article for a magazine, focusing on home improvements (I rearranged my office, again), getting away for a weekend, or catching up with friends. Instead of being happy when “X” happens, I’m going to be grateful for today. Because today is pretty damn good.

PS- In other news, we’re going to Bar Harbor this summer! I’m looking forward to spending a week in the town where my novel is set:) I’ve been to Bar Harbor many times, but I imagine I’ll be looking at the place with a new perspective this year!

Tagged as: Bar Harbor, happiness, marriage, novel, Writing & Editing

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Kettles, Bookshelves, and Addictive Literature

by Corinne on January 3, 2010

How cool is this kettle? I drink about ten cups of tea a day, so this is one of my most treasured Christmas gifts. The past couple days have constisted of reading, writing, editing, and researching literary agents. Since I’ve come down with the first cold I’ve had in years, all of these activities work well while tucked in bed or lounging on the couch.

I’m also thankful to finally have a bookshelf in our living room! We’re packing it with our favorite books and have been on somewhat of a book-buying spree. On Friday we visited Ukazoo Books and took advantage of their “Buy 3 Used Books, Get One Free!” I also picked up a new copy of Cherie Priest‘s Boneshaker. Steve found a copy of Margaret Atwood’s book, Negotiating with the Dead: A Writer on Writing. This is yet another example of how well he knows me. Margaret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale was a huge influence on my novel, so her writing advice is like a goldmine.

On Saturday, we stopped at Atomic Books, since I couldn’t go another day without Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins, book 2 of The Hunger Games trilogy. I’ve learned a lot from Collins. Especially: Set the stakes HIGH. The stakes could not be higher for Katniss Everdeen and that’s why I can’t stop reading it. Plus, it seems like there’s no way out of her predicament, so I’m desperate to find out how she manages to survive her conundrum. I’m sure not everyone likes to read stories like this, but I can’t get enough. At least at the moment, if it’s not life or death, I probably won’t get through the book.

What are you reading?

Tagged as: Atomic Books, baltimore, books, bookstore, editing, holidays, literary agent, marriage, novel, reading, Steve, Ukazoo Books

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The possibilities are endless…

by Corinne on December 31, 2009

My walnut-heart in Steve's hand on Christmas Eve

One of my favorite people blogged today about her “10 for ’10,” which inspired me to write my own list (in no particular order!)…

1. To be thankful every day for the “little” and “big” things.

2. To continue believing that I can create the life of my dreams and to nurture things like my vision board, affirmations, and relationships with creative and inspiring people.

3. To help CSL grow and help thousands more people this year!

4. To sign with a literary agent and begin our long and successful career together!

5. To finish my second novel.

6. To care for my mind, body, and spirit each day, even if it’s only through a ten minute yoga session, a big glass of green juice, or a few quiet moments with my journal.

7. To be unconditionally loving toward myself and others (there is such a thing as loving detachment for anyone who is a jerk!).

8. To shut down the computer more often (do I really need to read thirty blogs a day?) and go outside, read more books, and spend more time with my amazing husband.

9. To walk the walk.

10. Patience.

What’s on your list?

Tagged as: books, Crazy Sexy Life, marriage, novel, reading, Steve, walks, Writing & Editing, Yoga

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Post-Thanksgiving Thanks

by Corinne on November 30, 2009

The holiday was quiet and uneventful, which was perfect. Family events can be filled with stress and drama and I’m very grateful to have survived without those ugly elements present. The long weekend was heaven. I camped out on the couch writing, watching movies and hulu (how cool is hulu?), and listening to more of Stephen King’s memoir. I have too much in my brain to craft clever paragraphs, so I’m opting for a list of thanks this evening.

Thanks for…

1. Four day weekends. Enough said on that one.

2. Teenage Dirtbag, the movie. This is one of the least cliche-ridden movies about teenagers that I’ve ever seen. I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters afterward. I watched it again the next day with the commentary on and I’ve watched the trailer ten (ok, maybe twenty) times since. I can’t just like something, I have to be obsessed with it. Although my next book doesn’t relate to the subject matter, there is something about the mood of this film that I’m digging for my new work-in-progress.

3. Listening to the memoir portion of On Writing by Stephen King with Steve. He loved it too! King’s life story and the lessons he shares are universal. If you’re a writer or in a relationship with a writer, I can almost guarantee you’ll love the story of Stephen King and Tabitha Spruce.

4. Working through the beginning of a new novel. I’m researching the location, outlining the plot, talking it through with the hubs, and drawing maps of my new imaginary world. It’s not easy being on page one but I love the possibilities.

5. Creating the soundtrack for the new book. It’s dark and I heart it. Here’s a sneak peak…

6. It goes without saying that I’m thankful for my family, friends, and an amazing job.

7. Dreams. I’ve been blessed to have many dreams and also to have the opportunity (and courage) to chase them. Some of these hopes have become a reality (like my kick-ass job) and others are still just dreams, but that’s exciting too. It’s easy to forget the things you never thought were possible when they become a part of daily life. When Steve and I moved to Baltimore, I wanted to own a house in Hampden. We weren’t “ready” in many people’s eyes, but we set the intention and here we are, sitting in a Hampden rowhouse that we’ve owned for almost three years. If we’d listened to everyone’s advice, we would still be living in a tiny rented carriage house with a concrete front yard.

8. My first completed novel and many more in the future…

Tagged as: baltimore, books, Crazy Sexy Life, Hampden, marriage, music, novel, Steve, Writing & Editing

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