This is Life - The Great Vibes Guide is Back

I got a job, lost my mind, and am finally back to say, I've survived the world so far and am back for more. Xx. 

In August, I packed up my little Volkswagen Bug, kissed my Del on the head in my final round of goodbyes, and drove up toward NYC for a new job. I found an apartment, put together some Ikea furniture, and ultimately fell into the work hustle / zero life balance thing. 

The Great Vibes Guide has always been about the champagne popping because you made it through a Monday and the extra sprinkles in Rice Krispies because you're only you once. It's always been about the teeny tiny moments, which when strung together, make this life a life to talk about.

When The Guide began, there was no true understanding of grief or bone-harrowing loss. There weren't health problems or debating medications where yoga and meditation couldn’t be the fix. But then there was all of that and numbing exhaustion on top of it all. So for a long while, the thought of showing up here for everyone else -- since it wasn't feeling like it was for me anymore -- was ridiculous. But then I did a search on my own blog for a tip I'd written a year ago, and realized this space was more about documenting and curating a collection of sorts. 

So, The Guide is no longer about likes or shares or clicks or SEO. Because I don't have time, and frankly, I don't particularly care right now. 

It's about surviving and thriving -- whether that's after a terrible day at work or a night of doing tequila shots without drinking water. 

The Great Vibes Guide is back for us all to crack open and unravel and free ourselves from whatever limitations we’ve trapped ourselves beneath. So throw an extra olive in your martini, and let’s do this 2018 thing. Xx.

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Have You Read This?

I couldn't put it down...

What are your thoughts on psychological thrillers or mysteries? If you asked me a year ago, I would roll my eyes and say no, never. I'm convinced when my friend died last year that her love of mysteries, dark twists, and intrigue passed into me. This year, I've been tearing through some amazing ones, like The Girls by Emily Cline and Black-Eyed Susans by Julia Haeberlin. I read them via eBook for free by using my library card (I've talked about it here before). I love the pace, the unreliable narration, and the rush of excitement as it gets going and secrets are exposed. 

This book. This book. I was captivated from the first page, and ended up skipping half a work day to finish it, because I couldn't get over the mystery. Two girls have gone missing from a very small town in North Carolina within the past 10 years, both under very suspicious circumstances, and the main character is wrapped into her past to uncover the truth. Told backwards, you think you have all of the information up front but that is the farthest from the truth.

One of the quotes chosen at the beginning of part three (I believe) is the philosophy that life is better lived forward but understood backwards. I couldn't agree more. I was transported not only into the storyline but also to the place I grew up in New Jersey. All the Missing Girls made me nostalgic, appreciative, and downright in love with the messy complexities of the words 'going home'.

Needless to say, I'll be eagerly awaiting more books by Megan Miranda. 

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+ Read any good books lately? I'd love to know!    

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7 Podcasts Perfect for Commuting

Because boring trips and commutes aren't worth it. 

Do you listen to podcasts? It seems like everyone and their mother does so now. Last summer, I was addicted to Here's the Thing with Alec Baldwin and fell in love with the intimacy of hearing stories and fun anecdotes from people I didn't know or may never know. If you get to your job via the subway, are a consultant who travels via plane multiple times a week, or need interesting audio for your drives into school or work, these seven podcasts are sure to help you pass any length of time...

1. My Favorite Murder

I. Am. Obsessed. Georgia Hardstark and Karen Kilgariff invite you into their cozy podcast where they catch up, chat their favorite murders, and remind you to stay sexy. I was hooked from the very first episode. Needless to say, some nights I have to sleep with a nightlight, but it's worth every moment, because you'll find yourself laughing, disgusted, and horrified in the span of two minutes. 11/10 would start all over again. 

Perfect for: on your way to work, in the car to the grocery store, basically anywhere you want to laugh or listen to some crazy s***
Try this episode: My Firstest Murder

2. 2 Dope Queens

Straight from their bio: "Phoebe Robinson and Jessica Williams, along with their favorite comedians, tell stories about sex, romance, race, hair journeys, living in New York, and Billy Joel". It can't get much better than that. One of my favorites, I listed it below, stars Connie Britton, and they chat haunted houses (yasss). 

Perfect for: long commutes to or from work
Try this episode: Sleepover Accidents

3. Another Round

Buzzfeed is great, and Heben Nigatu and Tracy Clayton make it sparkle. Over a few drinks, these ladies chat everything from pop culture to politics, and make you laugh at their bold humor and charisma. 

Perfect for: a shorter commute to finish with a glass of wine on the couch to feel like you were with the girls all evening
Try this episode: This is the Most Beautiful Laugh

4. Last Podcast on the Left

Definitely darker and more researched than My Favorite Murder, this one explores the ins and outs of the horrific, and they spend more than one episode on one topic. It's kind of like being immersed in a scary book, except it is even more fascinating, in depth, and well, real. 

Perfect for: on the way in to work if you're jittery, so you can spend the whole day on an adrenaline rush and decompressing
Try this episode: Sexy Ghosts

5. Beautiful/Anonymous

Readers call in anonymously to discuss any topic of their choosing with actor and comedian, Chris Gethard. Beautiful, poignant stories, sometimes heavy, like a woman who found out she was married to a child molester and sometimes light, like the journey of one person getting their passport renewed. Either way, you feel wrapped into conversation and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human -- and how it's never all black and white.  

Perfect for: when you're trying to connect to humanity or on your commute home after a particularly uneventful day
Try this episode: Married to a Monster

6. Call Your Girlfriend

Hosts Anna Friedman and Aminatou Sow, journalist and digital strategist respectively, discuss everything from politics to pleasure and have the kind of conversations you and your best friend have on the roof over a glass of wine. 

Perfect for: your ride into work when you're stressed and would rather be having a fun chat with your bestie
Try this episode: Wear Sunscreen

7. Splendid Table

If you like learning about food, cooking, or really just eating, you'll love this podcast. People who are passionate about food talk about it almost to excess (yet it's always the perfect amount). Splendid Table is hosted by Lynne Rossetto Kasper, an award-winning food writer and radio journalist. She interviews cookbook authors, chefs, wine experts, and others, so you learn about what to make, where to go, and have an in-depth understanding of the food world. Tip: Don't listen when hungry. 

Perfect for: your lunch break or commute home to wine and snacks
Try this episode: Cheddar

What I'm excited to start next: Homecoming

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+What did you think of these seven podcasts for commuting to work? Have you listened to any of them? 

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