Tatum Hipp: month in moments

a month in moments // november

1:00:00 AM

Thinking back on November, I think back to complexity. I think of the wide range of activities, events, people, and places I experienced and all the emotion that was felt. I have quite a bit to say about this November so grab your tea and join me!

As always, I deeply enjoyed witnessing this month's full moon/supermoon. There is something so humbling about a full moon. It makes you feel small and gently reminds you of your place on Earth.

I got to see my little love bug, sidekick. When I look at her now that she is so old and slower, I see her as the little puppy she once was chasing me and my sister around our playhouse. She's brought this family laughter and sweetness. It is something special to grow up with a dog.

Many fires were made this past Thanksgiving and paired with the smokey mountain air from the North Carolina forest fires, our clothes were thick with the smokey, dense scent. I'm not complaining though.

This year I was lucky enough to spend a few days at home in Pennsylvania before hopping back in the car for the drive down to North Carolina. I spent lovely days with my mother, a woman whose inner beauty radiates just as much as her outer beauty. We strolled through Longwood Gardens to see the last of the lush Autumn life before all trees and bushes are covered in lights for the holiday season. Golden hour is truly a mesmerizing time.

How can golden hour not be one's favorite time of the day? It speaks to me spiritually.

And again....GOLD.

Had my first successful rockhounding experience this past Thanksgiving. Mother Nature is a total goddess. I mean look at which she produces! The gem haul included garnet, aventurine, aquamarine, quartz, amethyst, sodalite, emerald, and topaz all in their truly raw forms. My favorite part: the first time the sifter is dunked in the water, washing away the dust and the perfect sunlight hitting the soft colors of these stones. It's safe to say I'm addicted and could do this everyday.

My time at my Pennsylvania home was short, but it was sweet. Visits to Terrain and the newest Philadelphia Free People, baking with my dog under my feet waiting for a drop of cookie dough, and spinning some old records filled the short days. Now only two and half weeks, five projects, and 4 final exams stand between me and my Pennsylvania holiday celebrations.

P.S. Be sure to check out this quick video I made of a simple recap of the infamous Hipp Thanksgiving.

austin texas

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // OCTOBER

1:00:00 AM

October has simply floated by like the leaves in its crisp autumn winds. Although I am sad to see it go, I am thankful for and still holding on to the gifts it has brought me.

October included travels to weird Austin, Texas and memorable visits to the 6th street bars with Mom and Dad. It was a downtown experience with parents that I will never forget.

It's brought the realization that flying offers world recognition, seeing the peace of mind and thoughtfulness that comes from watching the sun rise to your level and witnessing the world wake up down below.

It's brought the richest of colors and the deepest of reds. It has accented the most intimate and lovely details of nature that we take for granted. Autumn is mother nature's time to shine. Showing her power and control she has on the life surrounding us. Autumn is her last gift to us as she leads us into winter.

October has brought great notice to myself. My favorite question to ask was: "How does my body feel?" Listening to my body, doing what it needs, brought great self contentment as well as self control.

October, a lovely gift in itself, brought many small gifts. So, thank you October for giving me somethings to take with me into November.

autumn

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // SEPTEMBER

5:57:00 PM

September has left and Autumn has arrived.

Breathing in these crisp mornings with the biting air and that soft scent of leaves and the brisk wind of October, I exhale the business and the fun that was September.

I traveled, I reflected, I set intentions, and I woke before the sun. September was successful.

And so now we face October. I've set new goals and carried over my intentions I had not yet checked off from September. I hope that the natural beauty and breathtaking views of September will transfer over as well.

So cheers to a new month and my challenge to live presently in this beautiful season.

august

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // AUGUST

1:00:00 AM

August in two words: beautifully exhausting.

There was so much beauty surrounding me this August, from the change in scenery as I moved from Bay to mountains, to the sweet customers of my Etsy shop. And there was so much chaos that kept August moving along, like the first week of Junior year classes and the five hours it took me to move into a side of a room. Pathetic? Maybe.

But overall, August has left me satisfied of what was and excited for what will be. I'm launching myself in to a new chapter this year. I have new desires to be a part of other things and be apart of something bigger. I want to apply myself and I want to continue to chase down some of these tiny dreams I have. I want to be thoughtful and present. I want to treat my body better and I want to set some goals and work toward them.

August taught me about maturity and just how old 20 years is. (Deal with that italicized "old" as you will, but I'm feeling pretty old). Helping new freshmen move in to their dorms room was bittersweet and sentimental, but I sure did love looking at their faces, their eyes, their behavior and knowing exactly how they were feeling and what they were thinking. That feeling that college is so new, that they will never get used to it, and that College will seem like a lifetime. But you do get used to it and it does fly by.

Now I'm staring at two more semesters on Virginia Tech's campus and one semester in Switzerland. So yeah, at 20 years I am feeling quite old.

So here is to September, to Autumn, to Junior year, and to chasing down more dreams. I'm ready for you September.

instagram

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // JULY

12:43:00 PM

July was...

a tornado of to-do lists.

a cycle of endless consumptions of caffeine followed by endless expenditures of energy.

Mother Nature's ultimate display of power by thick air and wicked heat.

filled with karma.

entrepreneur encouragement.

exhausting.

fun.

July was filled with my daily routines. Monday through Friday: rise with the tide and head off to work, 9 to 5. Saturday: 1/2 errands, 1/2 family and friends. Sunday: recovery, reflection, recompose.

I am always torn on how I feel about daily routines. I enjoy knowing what each day will hold and I prefer to know what I have to look forward to. But there is something about living a day in spontaneity that is just so refreshing. I'd say I live Monday through Friday in routine and at least one day on the weekend in spontaneity. I think it keeps me sane and it keeps me balanced.

Living in routine, however, leaves me falling prey to not living in the moment, and I hate that. I believe that we should take life day by day but it is so hard to not think about what needs to be done for tomorrow. It's a resolution. It will take learning day by day to live day by day.

So I am excited to see July go, as I am looking forward to August which will knowingly prove to be a whirlwind of change, reunion, and excitement and will not be filled with the same routines. Something new, something fun. Goodbye July.

june

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // JUNE

1:00:00 AM

Another month, come and gone, but it was a good month. June was simple and it was fun.

Firefly Music Festival made the best moments of the month, but June was really a highlight reel in itself. Seeing friends from school, witnessing the wonders of the Chesapeake, learning more about myself and my role in this crazy world, and meeting new people everyday.

There is so much to be grateful for within this month, and I am.

adventure

A MONTH IN MOMENTS // APRIL

5:23:00 PM

How incredibly fulfilling it is to say that most of April was spent outside. In the woods, in the water, on the trails, on a park bench. There is nothing that makes me happier than to be out under the sun or under the moon.

April was joyful. Not a day passed that I did not recognize the beauty around me, that I didn't laugh, or that I didn't simply smile out of pure contentedness.

I don't even mind that April managed to come to an end so quickly, because every day was filled with bliss and beauty. I am so grateful for all that April has brought me and I am so stoked to head into another beautiful spring month. So, let's go May.

moments

a month in moments // may

6:40:00 PM

Another month. Come and gone. I should be used to how time is flying by now, right? Well I'm not. In fact, this month seemed to pass by so quickly that I managed to take practically zip photos and the photos that I did take, well they surely didn't do justice for just how much was going on and everything that I was doing. Woo, go me! But, better a few than none.

May, you were crazy chaotic but you were beautiful. Thank you for your sweet breezes, breathtaking scents, and simple bliss.