Currently is a monthly post that highlights all the things I’m into right now. 

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Welcome to my 5th Installment of Currently! I hope your new year has been off to a warm and productive start.

The above picture is my addition to the #10yearchallenge that took over social media this past month. It's my first headshot from 10 years ago next to my most recent one from a few months back. My biggest takeaway is the fact that 10 years ago I needed a professional to take my picture, but now I possess the skills to do it myself. I also haven't lost my penchant for bold neck accessories. 

The challenge inspired me to dig through tons of old photos that I haven't looked at in a very long time and they brought up so many visceral emotions. It's crazy how fast time goes by, how much we change and how much we manage to forget. 

My January has been focused on learning. Every day I've challenged myself to actively learn something new; about myself, about my interactions in the world and about the world itself. I've been having lots of revelations. I learned that my face breaks out in an itchy red rash and my joints hurt whenever I eat gluten. 😭 I also learned that loofahs are made from gourds, not sea creatures. 🤯 I'm continuing to learn more about my very complicated relationship with honesty and how it weaves into my life both positively and negatively. 🤔 

What have you learned lately? How have you grown in the last 10 years? 5 years? This past month? These questions are important. 

Currently Thinking About...

• "While self-knowledge leads us to a greater understanding of ourselves and how we relate to the world, it also helps us to understand why people relate to us the way they do." A constant quest: Know Thyself. (Vision.org)
• In light of my recent personal discoveries, I'm keeping my mind, eyes and ears open to the possibility: Vaccine Now Under Trial Could Allow People to Eat Gluten Again. (Food and Wine)
• As I consider draining my savings account on laser treatments that may or may not work to lessen the appearance of my Rosacea, I'm reminded that The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich. (The Atlantic)
• But wait, wasn't there an overpopulation problem like 5 minutes ago? Americans Aren’t Making Enough Babies, Says CDC. (Fortune)
• "I was paralyzed with the fear that if I didn’t grip tightly to everything she touched, her voice and smile would slip away with the last of the linen." Sometimes it's just more complicated than whether or not something "sparks joy." I Tried To ‘Marie Kondo’ My Dead Mom’s Things But It Didn’t Go Quite As I Planned. (Huffington Post)
• Hey! It's been forever. Are you free this week? Let's Get Drinks. (The New Yorker)

Currently Listening To...

• Back on a Dirty Projectors kick: Swing Lo Magellan (Youtube) 
• The soundtrack to my winter: A classic from from 2008 before the Swedish sisters made a name for themselves. First Aid Kit covers Fleet Foxes' Tiger Mountain Peasant Song. (Youtube)
• Russel Brand interviews Tony Robbins on his podcast, and I very much enjoyed it. Under the Skin with Russel Brand #56: Meeting A Mentor (with Tony Robbins). (Russelbrand.com)

Currently Watching...

• Why are people such as myself completely infatuated with learning about the inner workings of people such as Ted Bundy? So that it never, ever happens to us. Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes. (Netflix)
• I relate to the characters on this show probably - definitely - way too much: Difficult People. (Hulu)

Currently Cooking...

• I made a big batch of Thai Green Curry Paste to keep in the freezer for the days we need a healthy, flavorful dinner on the table fast. Nothing beats it.
• Roast Chicken --> make leftovers into Carnitas Tacos --> top with this salsa --> repeat. 
• I've been making these weekly: Sheet Pan Meatballs with Crispy Turmeric Chickpeas. (Smitten Kitchen)
• I find nearly all non-dairy milk to taste like trash, but this one I've actually been enjoying (and it's dead simple to make): Homemade Cashew Milk. (Vanilla and Bean)
• Because I can only go so long without bread, I'll be trying this recipe out very soon: The Best Homemade Gluten-Free Bread. (Feed Me Phoebe)

I hope you learned something from this post, but if nothing else, I hope you enjoyed reading it. Thanks for being here. <3

Stay warm and cozy,

xo Coley