Something about old dogs...

Now that I've settled in to my new apartment in southwest Austin, TX (a.k.a. the coolest city in Texas. Which isn't saying much, to be fair. But it really is awesome. And I've lived in many cool, cosmopolitan cities. So it's legit.), I've found myself trying to quickly establish some positive new behaviors/rituals. Why so quick on the draw, you ask? (Or not.) Well, I've found that I settle into routine quite expeditiously, which isn't always a good thing.

Say, for example, my former habit of rewarding "early mornings" with a large chocolate donut. Now, in and of itself, this wasn't the worst tradition ever; but when I extended "mornings" to anything in the AM half of the day, I had officially lost my marbles. That's a whole lot of eligible donut time. (And I am my mother's daughter, after all. I will take out a small child for swiping the last chocolate twist.)

These tasks don't have to be substantial or even really all that important, but I think it contributes to a simplified, well-balanced, grown up life. Like, I don't have to thrash about the house in a sweaty panic looking for my (unnecessarily large set of) keys. I know they're in the little drawer of my foyer table. (Oh yeah, I have one of those. I'm mature, see.)

They don't have to be super OCD, either. Some of them are just good, clean fun. Say, for example, waking up to my cheery iPod playlist versus the God-awful, stabby-making beep. I don't know about you, but nothing gets me off to a lovely start like waking to The Temper Trap. And coffee. Natch.

Well, that's enough Nesting with Natty for today. Stay tuned for adventures in decorating sans symmetry. It's all the rage. So I'm told.