Nesting

Aah, womanhood. The joys, the beauties, the trials, the nesting! By nesting I mean making a house a home. I'm quickly approaching my mid-twenties (unless almost-24 is mid-twenties -- yikes), and the nesting bug just bit me. It's gone from the occasional leisure thought floating through my head to a focused interest. Thanks to domino magazine, anthropologie, lovely boutiques and inspirational cafes, I now want to own a little house with a pretty garden, a red front door (at least once in my life), and at least one navy blue wall inside. You're all invited to the housewarming party.

This morning I met two girlfriends downtown at Smiley's Cafe for coffee and an egg sandwich on toast...with avocado. This little place is eclectic, with plants in the windowsill and every category of art on the wall. No two chairs were the same. This got us talking about our homes and our plans for improving them this spring and summer. My project is setting up a comfortable nook on my balcony with plants and a chair, and perhaps a lantern or two. To my surprise, I find myself having these conversations on a semi-regular basis, and I don't know where it came from. My college roommate drove through town a few days ago with her husband and daughter, and we talked about gardening and exchanging recipes!! I'm convinced that once a girl hits her early-mid-twenties, womanhood sets in somethin' fierce. Please note: womanhood does not mean motherhood. I refuse to wear mom jeans. Ever. Nor will I have a mom haircut. It simply means that I care more about cozying up a real home as opposed to sweeping out my fort in the backyard. Man, I feel like a woman.