Fleeting vs. Abiding | Love Yourself Linkup

If every person who ever thought they needed to change something to be prettier, felt one hundred percent loved--all of the time--would they in fact still feel the need to change? When I came across these words by Kate Wicker, from Weightless: Making Peace with Your Body, I had this moment where if you were there, you may have seen a lightbulb hovering over my head. And this strand of words, it continues to get me thinking: How can we love ourselves and others more fully, so as not to feel the need to change ourselves to be prettier, to change ourselves to the norm of our culture, to change ourselves because it makes us waiver less in our ability to fit in. If wanting to feel loved is the root of self-worth, body image, and our drive to change, then let's consider how it is we need to better feel loved and better love another. 

I am struck with the fact that I need to love others better, while facing straight on my need to love myself deeper, too. I've rolled around with how loving others goes hand in hand with loving yourself, over and over, this past month since writing about it. Truth, it doesn't get any simpler: the root of our desire to change is a desire to be loved. So do we really want to bear the mark, and the trial to reach unattainable standards, of physical beauty--wasting life's moments for something ever fleeting? Or do we want to bear the internal mark of learning to love others and ourselves more purely--relying on each other, and God, to purposefully teach us, investing life's moments on something abiding?

Wander Over

Friends. After a day at the airport waiting for our delayed flight yesterday, then making it home safely, I was up all night with foods poisoning. Ugh. So, I'm playing hooky from the blog today and sending you elsewhere to read some pieces by other bloggers and writers from over the past few weeks. Wander over and enjoy their talent.

// Anne Taylor, who hosts the Love Yourself Linkup each week, has this way of being transparent and real even amidst struggles and recovery. She is so brave to write about the inner workings of her spirit. Read her article on Prodigal Magazine, It's Too Bad I'm Fat, here.

// This darling pin cushion diy over at Poppy Haus totally caught my eye. 

// Stephanie May doesn't seem to miss how the simplest things are the most beautiful in life. Read more of the Loveliest Things here and explore her writing collection over at The Lipstick Gospel.

// This  small bloom by Christina Kwan is just so pretty.

// I just love how my friend Natalie is styling her summer outfits lately. Like shorts and tops, layered necklaces, and Sseko sandals. And how refreshing is it to see modesty meet fashion and brands that empower women.

// Ashlee Chu reminds us that we need to embrace our beauty in this piece over at All Things Beautiful. After I read the article, I left asking myself the question, "Am I resting in the beauty I was created with?" Such a sweet sweet reminder that I am beautiful, and you are beautiful.

// Have you met Allie? She has two videos up on her blog I just loved watching today. One, a flower crown tutorial, the other, a lovely little inspiration video with lace, a vintage trailer, and dainty details. 

Notes from a Swimmer / 2

ABOVE // I just love this Synchronized Swimming piece by Jeannie Phan from her book Nature's Collections. How pretty the shapes are! As a little girl my friends and I would attempt to choreograph our own synchronized swimming routines. That in addition to underwater hand stand contests. My goodness how difficult that sport is -- synchronized swimming not under water handstands (although, my husband my beg to differ). 

BELOW // How stunning would a print like this Underwater view of Triathalon Swimming be in a room needing some graphic pop? I'm thinking a similar vibe to Jenny's laundry room and the way she used a black and white print to bring interest into the space (not that it wasn't interesting in all other areas of design! )

Wooden Bib Necklaces, Part II

After making the natural wooden bib necklace last week, I could not get enough. I mean, seriously, this is my favorite necklace right now. So I made another. And another. Are you catching on? I used up all of the wooden beads in my path. ALL of them. Colored beads, and natural beads. All wooden and chunky and glorious. I couldn't be happier with what a little wax thread and wooden beads can become. Take a look! For the tutorial, hop on over the Part I, here.

Beauty the Action

Someone once told me "The best part of beauty is that which no photograph can express."

Beauty, and its best parts, are an action. Beauty is an outpouring of the within. Though our world likes to tell us otherwise, with style and grace being solely about the exterior--style and grace can only be beautiful if the inner linings match. I recently wrote and asked "what squeezes out of your life?" In the very same respect, the things that one lives passionately about, would do anything for, and over else are consumed by (all things that squeeze out of one's life)--they all have so much sway on beauty. 

Beauty is an action. True beauty shows up in unexpected places, as kindness, service, gratitude, joy, selflessness, love, and humility. It shows up in forgotten places, like among 20 homeless woman staying at an overnight shelter, laughing and caring for each other because they are thankful they have enough. It shows up on camping trips where make-up and hairstyles are long forgotten, and a small tent and fire become luxuries, while we sit and share parts of ourselves under the expansive sky. Beauty shows up in the workplace when two coworkers take a break from the work work work mentality to get to know the heart of their colleague. It shows up when we least expect it to. Beauty, and its best parts, cannot be primped and prepped for. It cannot be applied through concealer, a curling wand, and that perfect little black dress. Although these things may bring on some style and grace, this is not what defines beauty. It is the action that comes from within that makes the beautiful show up.

For the Choose Beauty Linkup, started over at Thoughts by Natalie, I want to set the stage for what I will be writing about. A stage where beauty, at its finest, cannot be expressed by a visual. A stage where beauty is a way life is lived, and a way that other's experience it. Something that a photograph cannot express, but hopefully words can describe.

Print-Like Denver Oil Painting

For our four year anniversary this past May, I painted Matt his gift, rather than buying it. The man loves maps, so I set out to make a print-style oil painting of the state of Colorado. With a heart placed over the very spot we now call home: Denver.  

This piece of art has been a long time coming. Two words: oil paint. If you've used oil on canvas, you know that oil takes patience and time. So much time. So much patience. And so much mess. (Oil based paints are my favorite thing to clean....said no one ever). The day I set out to paint this print-like map, I wanted to have the piece done and setting in our living room within 24 hours. Talk about setting way too high of expectations for myself. That, let alone trying to defy the properties of oil paint. I'm fairly certain this canvas sat on our kitchen counter for more than 24 days. Ha, 24 hours? Who was I kidding. Between the layers and the waiting for everything to dry between applications-- well, let's just say this canvas has been waiting to join the others for far too long now. 

Renewed to Risk | Love Yourself Linkup

After writing about risks and relationships this past weekend, my heart was opened to something else entirely. Countless times, I have been stunted in my ability to take risks in relationships, both shiny new relationships and rusty worn in loved relationships, because I didn't love myself fully. And when I lack love for myself not only are risks not taken: relationships are held back, insecurities bulldoze anything in their path, and experiences are completely missed. Can you relate?

I could write about a handful of times that loving myself (a lack thereofe) has held a relationship back or made me miss out on community and growth. But I'm not. I am going to write about just one relationship. Here comes the vulnerability part. I have missed taking the most risks, lately, in the one relationship that I had to take the biggest risk to get from the very start. My relationship with Matt. The biggest risk I took was when I met Matt and opened my heart to him. After scars and hurt and shame from a pretty broken relationship before that, opening my heart was something that took time. It was a long road coming, falling for him: first meeting at a social, a year of me completely oblivious, Matt basically giving up on ever dating me, feelings blooming and changing, and the leap of faith to be honest and true about the relationship that was being cultivated. I took the biggest risk of my life when walking on the Cal Poly campus one night, I decided to tell him that I liked him. And his response, "I have liked you since I met you." Then the second biggest risk of my life was when I told him about the hurt from my past and the decisions I regret. And his response, "You are still the same person, and I still choose you."

And there have been countless leaps of faith with the man I love since our days of dating, to being engaged, to saying "I do", to figuring out life just us. But in the same light, there have been countless times where I didn't risk stepping out of my comfort zone, even with the person I am the closest with over everyone else, because I didn't love myself fully. I let my insecurities about my body, my intellect, my goals, or my heart win, in so many instances, that I missed out on a lot of the little things in our marriage. Like times I could have laughed out loud and rolled something off my back, risking loosing my stubbornness for just one moment, rather than getting angry or cold hearted. Or times I could have been honest and vulnerable about my lack of love for my body, risking the chance to be loved in return, rather than being hesitant in a moment of intimacy. Or times I could have chosen to extend myself grace to better love my husband, rather than feel embarrassed. These are the little risks I have missed out on. And in return, I have lost a lot of wonderful moments. And by no means is this the picture of our relationship. Matt is my person, and I am his, forever--and we have joy, and love, and all these life-giving things. But the truth? It hasn't all been sunshine. And an even greater truth? A lot is due in part to my stance on loving myself fully. Me loving me, flaws and all. 

How I love myself -- well -- loving myself completely translates to my ability to fully love Matt. And loving myself is more often than not the sole determining factor of whether I risk something daily in order to grow in our relationship and build up the amazing gift that we have--our marriage. 

Am I making sense? (When you go down the road of vulnerability, sometimes it doesn't write like poetry or a book on its way to publication. Sometimes it looks like words on a Scrabble board just trying to fit together.)

There have been so many moments in our marriage where I have opted out, heart and mind, from taking risks because of the way I felt about myself. Maybe it was my mood. Maybe it was my self-perception. Maybe it was a comment that I internalized to the extreme. Oh how I wish I could go back and love myself more fully in those moments so that I could love Matt more deeply. Because of my lack of love for myself in the past, my relationship was held back, insecurities tried to break us down (and at times did), and experiences were completely missed.

So today, certainly, I am still in the process of learning to love myself fully. Learning how to deal with anxiety for example. And in loving myself fully, learning to love Matt the way I am supposed to -- unconditionally -- and taking risks to grow parts of our relationship that have been stunted in the past by my insecurities and shame. And I can already say, that in this process, my heart is being renewed. Renewed.

And it is a wonderful thing.

Has loving yourself ever held you back from relational risk taking? How did you learn (or are learning) to love yourself and take risks again?

Notes from a Swimmer

There was never a time in my life when I wasn't a swimmer. Without the pool, half of my childhood memories, if not more, would be gone. I am a swimmer. Through and through. And although competing stopped for me before I headed off to college, time spent in the water is where I still find myself whenever I'm feeling a little bit lost. It's where I find myself when I feel I need to get back to the core of who I am. Swimming is where I find my peace, my strength, and my clarity. Do you have a place like that? 

Years ago I made a decision to stop competing. It was a time in my life when I was truly compelled to think about two things: Live my life for God or live my life for the pool? When I made that decision, I was learning how to live my life for Jesus, and I was learning so much about myself as a young adult, and at that time I had to choose one. Not to say that I couldn't have done both fully, but at the age of 17, I felt the need to choose one an focus on that. You see, I was new to this thing called having a personal relationship with God. And so, I made the choice to go off into the wild blue yonder of my college years without swimming--because I wanted, for the first time in my life, to explore ministry and a life different than the one I was so accustomed to-- with 4 a.m. swim practices, meets every weekend, and the cycle of "swim, eat, study, sleep, and repeat." But I wonder sometimes where I'd be if I hadn't made that choice. Where would I be if I chose to swim into my college years? Do you ever get caught up in the "what if's" when thinking about a decision you made? 

I am multi faceted. I am a wife, a daughter, an educator, a writer, a blogger, an artist, a decorator, a dog rescuer, a friend. And yet always, I am a swimmer. Through and through, this is my core. So every now and again, there may be some notes from me-- a swimmer--in this space where all my hats can be worn. :)

Risks and Relationships

I am not the biggest risk taker. I like comfortable. But I realized something in terms of relationships and taking risks. So many of the risks we take in a "people sense", in the end, bring us the comfort of home. Taking risks can translate to comfort in the end. 

Almost all friendships and relationships start with a risk. A stepping out of that box that we all like to squeeze ourselves and a few other people, places, and things into. Whatever does not fit in that box-- a risk is taken to get it. Think about your friendships and how they first began: the risk you had to take to build trust. If you're dating or married, think about your love story, and the butterflies that lingered: the risk you had to take to fall in love. Weren't there risks involved with both of these? How could there not have been? The phone call to get coffee. The showing up at a gathering where you know absolutely no one. The telling of something deep inside you to another person. The putting your heart on a line. The being vulnerable. The being honest. The being you. 

Life can get comfortable again after college. Comfortable after new friends turn to gold. Comfortable once a budding love story turns to a forever commitment. Adult life can get comfortable. I'm finding, at age 27, as I'm faced with less people risks than I did in the past, that I'm comfortable. And I've realized, that those risks I took as a young adult and teenager, to meet people and fall in love--those risks--well, they have turned into my comforts. Those people I had to step out of the box to meet and to know, they are my home.

Now that we live in Denver, I have to take those risks again. Like any new beginning, taking risks are a part of the package. But like I said, I am not the biggest taker. And camping out on comfortable can be my go to. But comfortable does not build new relationships. Comfortable does not step out of the box. So I've been having a chat with this "comfortable me" and reminding her that taking risks in the end, does bring comfort. I'm reminding her of the risks she took for love, for best friends--for people who mean the world to her. And how taking risks are the foundation of relationships. Taking risks to reach out and meet new faces, putting heart and all that is me on the line, builds true lasting friendships. And in the end, the risks taken to build true lasting friendships are what bring us to a place of feeling the comforts of home.

photo credit 1  2  3 

Making Wooden Bib Necklaces, Part I

Yet again, get ready for another one of those Pinterest projects that I found on a wonderful DIY blog, that could not be shaken from my "must make" mindset: the wooden bib necklace. Pattern credit fully due to Martha Stuart, and wooden bead styling inspiration fully from to Heather of Poppy Haus. 

Although Heather and Martha do a lovely job of giving direction on how to make this amazing statement piece, I found while I was making it that if a few more steps were included in the original tutorial, this already simple project would be that much easier. The wooden beads are much larger than the beads in Martha Stuarts original pattern, so to go about this particular style, a few adaptations have been made. Using the original pattern, plus a few pointers from my experience making the necklace, you'll be well on your way to quite possibly the best bib necklace you'll wear all summer (thank you, Heather, for the amazing inspiration!)

What squeezes out of your life? | Love Yourself Linkup

What do I live passionately about, would do anything for, and over anything else am consumed by? 

These are the questions camping out in my thoughts this week. The words I've been thinking about, intensely. And certainly, this is something I've reflected on a lot during my walk as a Christian -- but an important note is that these questions, Jesus lover or not, are ones that everyone should ask themselves. And not just ask once and answer plainly. But ask often enough and answer completely, because daily we can stray away and stop giving the answers that we truly want to live by--getting swept up into a life that is void of living passionately about what truly matters and void of those things we should be consumed by--all easily taken over by placeholders and things lacking depth and meaning. 

These are life giving questions. These are self defining questions. These are soul searching, breathe taking, stop you in your tracks questions when you ask them honestly and are vulnerable to answer. 

When asking myself a few days ago, my response was full of answers that look pretty on paper, a list of things that I am truly passionate about and living my life for. All wonderful things, and true. But then I realized in the days following that my rolling out of bed thoughts, my walking around the city thoughts, and my at home after work thoughts were all consumed by an agenda that I made for myself: preplanned writing topics, self focused ideas, an inability to be in the moment, exercise, with no room to stray away. Not to say I cannot ever think about my to-do list, what I want to write about, or thoughts of self-awareness -- but to have these be the things that I am consumed by and think about first thing over everything else? That type of realization is gut wrenching when you have it - -and that realization, I had (and am still).

I have this image in my mind of someone coming up to me, hugging so tightly, with me wrapped up in their arms, that the things I am consumed by squeeze out. Right onto them. What is it that squeezes out? I know in a literal sense, this would never happen. Things don't just squeeze out of us onto others. But what we live passionately about, would do anything for, and over anything else are consumed by -- this completely one hundred percent drives our actions and our thoughts. This is what directs our day and our "in the moments". This is what squeezes out. And the person who says otherwise, I still have yet to meet.

So when you ask yourself  What am I consumed by? What do I live passionately about? What would I do anything for? Are you stopped in your tracks because you are blown away by the affects of intentional living? Or are you stopped in your tracks because you're realizing that your answers are not the ones you want to hear? 

I challenge you, in the process of loving yourself, to reflect on what it is that consumes your thoughts. What is it that you are (or are not) living passionately for? What do you want your answers to be -- and if they are not how you want your life, your day to day, and your outpouring to look like -- why not change that, right now?

photo via Pinterest

Guest Bedroom Tour

The guest bedroom has seen the most change out of any room in the house over the past year of living here. From futons, to shelves, to desk space, to storage, I've rearranged this room more times than you'd like to know. But finally, arrange no more--our guest bedroom feels complete, and it's going to stay this way for awhile.

Being limited on painting options and floor options while in a rental (ie. not changeable), I had to bring in color in ways other than painting the walls. And, being a room filled with mix matched pieces of furniture, I decided to run with that theme and have everything from textiles, prints, and colors mixed. Besides, that's kind of my thing.

Lovely Locks | Nape of Neck Braid & Side Bun

Though I tend to walk out my door each morning, with my hair still slightly damp from my shower, or pulled back in a simple bun or ponytail, lately I've been stepping it up. I've actually been trying different ways to twist, pin, and braid these locks of mine. Fancy that! The heat, and my active schedule, have made wearing my hair down an uphill battle (namely sweaty and tousled have been my nemesis), and I've been trying mermaid braids, inside out braids, and other looks that I really love instead. After posting my weekend do on Instagram this weekend, the nape of neck braid and side bun, so many of you asked that I give a tutorial! I usually leave the hair tutorials to my friend Natalie and other beauty blogs, but you insisted. So, just for you, I stepped out of the box and got myself on film braiding away. Enjoy!

Click here to watch the video on YouTube

What is your favorite summer style that keeps hair up and out of the way?

Music // Hollow and Bold by Maria Hansen

Desk Space

Working from home lately has got me thinking about desk space and my dream set up. My best writing and art come when I have a space to sneak away to. Living in tight quarters as we do right now, a desk space is more of a shared area for Matt and I to both work. Because of that, I want to have our little office space be aesthetically pleasing for both of us. A well balanced mix of masculine and feminine. I'm thinking exposed wood, hints of metal, vintage elements, and of course a few pops of color. I've been hounding Pinterest while thinking of how I would want to transform this area, and make it different (I can't even begin to tell you how non-existant a desk space in our home is right now...a tour on that room to come next week). 

There are design elements from each of these photos that I am saving for that day I tackle the desk space-- industrial or reclaimed desk, metal lamp, statement art, natural light, bright textile rug, maps, clean white space, pops of color (like that chartreuse and red!):

Giveaway | Weekender Tote & Darling Issue No. 4

Today, Natalie and I have partnered to bring you a fun summer giveaway! Remember that wish list from yesterday? Well, you get the chance to have two items from it, all in the name of summer--because we love it so. We are giving away this orange striped MidiQueen Weekender Bag and a copy of Darling Magazine's Summer Issue. Go over to Thoughts By Natalie to comment and find out ways to enter! The winner will be announced next Friday, July 19th. >>Take me to the giveaway!

Home Video | Happy Weekend!

(Update: The video clip has been fixed ! This time, it won't stop at 23 seconds in, I promise!)

By no means am I a video blogger, but it was my mom's birthday last week, so this little clip is for her. You can enjoy it too, because its almost the weekend. You need an excuse to sit and watch some pound puppies in the snow in the middle of summer- right? Thought so. (Whoa, yes. The quality of this clip, not so great. I have a lot to learn about movie making! That's what you get with impromptu iPhone movie magic. That's why it's called a home video.) Happy weekend! Don't forget to come back later for giveaway excitement!

 

                      

                                              Music // Little Thing Called Love preformed by Misty Miller

Summer Frolicking | A Wish List

What I love most about summer is the freedom that a weekend brings. I love that you can walk out your front door with plans to head off to the park and then hours later land at the lake, find yourself hiking up in the mountains, or people watching on a roof top patio. The days are long, the sun shines endlessly, and one day can feel like many. Even after work, there are still hours of light--just enough time to squeeze in a bike ride, a walk to a local eatery, or a drive with no destination ahead yet spontaneity at the wheel. 

My summer tote is a must these days, especially for the fun that summer brings. Hanging at our front door, I have a bag filled with a few essentials for things like spontaneous picnicking and time in the sun. Right now, this bag is pretty basic--just a few rolled up turkish towels, sunscreen, flip flops, and a hat. But if I were to fill it with a few more things, just in case I need to whisk out the door with the freedom of a summer day, and the unknown of where we might end up and venture along the way, these are those items I would fill it with (practical, yes, but with an emphasis on summer frolicking) :

1 // Madewell | Blanca Jacquard Dress

In case a reason to get dressed up presents itself, white for summer always work. Always.

2 // Anthropologie | Bocce Ball Set 

You never know when a lawn and shade will entice some bocce ball competition.

3 // Anthropologie | The World Is Your Oyster Card 

I often want to write a friend when I'm out enjoying a quite moment, describe the scene, and share a part of that moment as if they were right there with me.

4 // Madewell | Espadrille Mini Wedge

These are just adorable. And they would be so cute with that white dress if a sudden wardrobe change is needed. (Or if a summer photo shoot presents itself.)

5 // Sephora | Hair Tie 

Because pony tails and piled in a bun hair is always where it ends up at the end of a summer's day. And these soft elastic ties don't leave kink marks--the best!

6 // Darling Magazine | Summer Issue No. 4

Summer tote must because coffee shop reading, beachside page flipping, and words to inspire more sunny day adventuring are all satisfied with this print magazine.

7 // Madewell | Brass Bicycle Bell

Needed, for obvious bicycling reasons.

8 // Tarte | Lip Surgence Lip Tint

If eating out or museum going pops up, a hint of color on the lips can dress up any adventurer.

9 // Anthropologie | Travel Journal

To make notes of places seen, places to go, and things to remember.

10 // Paper Source | Green Seven Year Pen

Journaling and letter writing, well, a pen is necessary! And this swiss pen, it claims to stay alive for seven years.

11 // J.Crew | Polkadot Rash Guard

With this handy, paired with swim bottoms, paddle boarding, tubing, and all water sports are ready to be conquered.

12 // Anthropologie | Jetty Compact Mirror

To check cheeks for sunburn, this nautical compact mirror is just too cute to not want in my summer tote. 

And the summer tote? This is the tote I'd carry it all in. MidiQueen Handbags The Weekender bag. My everything bag. My fill it to the brim bag. My summer frolicking bag. What would be on your wish list for your tote for summer adventuring?

Oh, and stay tuned for a giveaway coming up! Hint: it's related to this wish list! Happy Thursday!

Denver Adventures | Summer Lately

You may have noticed that I have definitely been lagging on the DIY front, but you guys, I'm not to blame. Denver is. It has been too gorgeous out lately to not spend our free time in and around the city. And so many places to go! Having lived in four cities our first four years of marriage, my perspective has changed a bit. I took those towns for granted, and looking back, I wish we would have explored more, deepened our roots further, and known the ins and outs of our towns when we lived in them so darn well that we could have written a book about them. I don't know how long we will be in Denver --city proper-- and there are so many things on my to do list. Still, after a year, adventures in this city linger while nooks wait to be yet experienced. So lately, this summer, we have been doing just that--taking the opportunity to explore and get out!

Loving Inward & Loving Outward | Love Yourself Linkup

Something hitting me straight on as I go through the process of writing for the Love Yourself Linkup each week, is something so simple: Loving yourself goes hand in hand with loving others. 

It's one of those cyclical thoughts, when I try and break it down in my mind. Which comes first? Is it with loving yourself truer and more openly that you are better able to love others? Or is is the overflow from loving others, engaged in community and relationships, that builds up esteem and your ability to love yourself deeper? And when I think of my own life--the people in it, my perceptions of myself, what community and loving others look like at each point in my 27 years--I see a common thread. The times that I have loved myself the most, and extended continual grace and kindness to myself--those times I was engaged in a community where I was very much loving others and giving a portion of myself daily.

And it couldn't be truer in my life. The times that my anxiety builds, or I criticize myself, or I doubt my self-worth and focus on external beauty comparing and breaking myself down--those times, I am most likely lacking community. Those times, I am most likely lacking the daily necessity of loving others in a way where I give a portion of myself. 

A piece of my heart has been transformed this week. I've been serving a few of Denver's homeless woman, loving them, listening to them, and making them feel worth it. And in giving a portion of myself, and stretching my comforts, in just this simple way, that piece of my heart that often forgets how to love myself, remembers. It remembers how to love myself because I'm loving others. At the same time, my ability to serve and the risk that I've taken in giving up a part of my comfortable week to serve others, is a direct outcome of this process of learning to love myself better. Loving myself has enabled me to better love others, leaving judgements and fear to the wayside.

I am reminded again that loving inward goes hand in hand with loving outward. So this is my challenge this week. Love others, so you can better love yourself. If you are struggling to love yourself, spend time in community, give a portion of yourself to someone in need of service, spend time over coffee with your friend, love in an unexpected way. Love yourself, so you can better love others. If you are struggling to love others because you are at a point where you are in recovery, or you just can't fully give yourself to service and loving others like you'd hope, work on loving yourself more honestly--and don't give up. Spend time reflecting on what goodness in you can better relationships and community. If you pray, pray often. If you journal, journal honestly. Be encouraged that loving others and loving yourself are beautifully intertwined.

Photo taken in  San Luis Obispo during a time in my life when loving others and loving myself truly relied on each other.

How have you seen the inner workings of loving yourself and loving others pairing beautifully in your life?

Subtle White Ombré Barstools

We have moved four times in four years. That's a lot of opportunities to clean out and take furniture inventory! Every space has been so different from the next, so we have loyally stuck to Craigslist, thrift stores, and flea markets for our furniture. While renting our apartment, I find myself not wanting to spend a whole lot on furniture, knowing that one day, when we are home owners, the space might call for something completely different. Of course our bed, our couch, and a few vintage pieces from my Grandmother are going to be perfect in any home we end up in. But the odds and ends--like barstools--I opt to go cheap and DIY. 

We've never had a high counter until moving to Denver. Its so great to have a large tall space! This counter serves as a multi purpose area, housing messy painting projects, candlelit dinners, and a catch all for the daily movement through our little home. I found these rather plain barstools on Craigslist for $10 when we first moved in. I had been putting off painting them for a year, literally, because I demised the fact that I would have to sand them down and strip the coating. One of those projects I always put on the end of my to-do list...

A Woman Inspired

The following is a post by Kristen Schiffman. She most recently shared her 10 Dares for and Adventurous Summer--over here. Kristen loves tea lattes, weekend hikes, everyday celebrations, her funny husband, and Humphrey Bogart (both the man and the dog she named after him.) She’s a messy faith embracer who believes wild & free things are the best things. She serves on staff as Director of Communications at A Woman Inspired. 

I have this lovely memory tucked away in my heart from my early years in ministry: a hot coffee in hand, an open Bible, my most cherished pen*, and oh, just my favorite women from around the world hanging out at A Woman Inspired.

A Woman Inspired’s 2009 Get Revived conference is still an online ministry highlight of mine. How cool is it that with modern technology we can study the Bible together, get revived, encourage our friends, and do it all in cozy socks?

What's the trouble with slowing down?

Yesterday I woke up feeling a little bit like this pup. But adamant I was, because it was July 4th, and we had all these fun things planned, therefore I wouldn't be defeated (my pride most definitely getting in the way). We even made a trip to Bonnie Brae Icecream, because how can you feel sick with a summer cold when eating a delicious scoop of old fashioned toffee melt in your mouth goodness? 

Today, I am paying for it--summer bug in full force. And it is a definite a lesson learned. Matt has full rights to say to me "I told you so" as he all day yesterday told me I need to just crawl back in bed. But I would not have it. I do this a lot, not allowing myself to slow down and stay in bed all day if that's what I need. I tend to feel guilty if I'm not "productive" or not making things happen. This even is true when I am completely well, without a summer cold, and just want to do some reading. I have difficulty sitting and reading a book for large parts of my day without feeling guilty that I am being the complete opposite of productive. Do you ever do this? 

I've set this goal for myself, time and time again, to slow down. But what have I mindfully done this week, this month, to really take time to slow down if I need it, without feeling guilty? I can't even fully answer that question myself, so I am heading off into this weekend with the mindset of rest taking the lead and the goal to finish a few books that have been collecting dust just waiting to be opened again. 

photo via modernhepburn

Happy 4th!

Happy Fourth of July, friends! I hope you get outdoors today, are surrounded by community, and perhaps enjoy a late summer night with sparklers and s'mores (sticky fingers required).

Just in case you are in the mood for a patriotic DIY, I am sharing three over at Darling Magazine today!  >>You can read the article in full here. 

photos via 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Red, white, blue.

My favorite place EVER watching fireworks was July 4th on the beach of South Lake Tahoe. You could see firework shows all around the lake, up close, and off in the distance. Tomorrow we celebrate all that is America. Our freedom. Our rights. Our duty as civilians. I feel proud, do you?

Our plans tomorrow so far are a long lazy morning, a walk around City Park, and afternoon BBQ with friends, and a night enjoying America's pastime: Baseball! It's Dodgers vs. Rockies! And fireworks at Coors Field. (the last time we saw The Dodgers, this happened) What are you up to?

Also, I was told at work today by multiple preschoolers that I look like an American flag in my dress. Yes! My patriotic mission--accomplished.

Stuck | Love Yourself Linkup

Can I be honest with you? I am stuck when it comes to writing this week on the matters of self worth, body image, and inner beauty. I had the words to write about life simplified, but the thoughts are not completely ripe. I wanted to write more about where I am at with my anxiety, but I am still in the middle of that too. I started to write about moving past disappointment and  how realistic expectations set you up for loving yourself, and your life, more --but my page on the topic? Still blank. And I really wanted to write about how I am learning to be truer to myself, and more caring toward myself, but those words, well--not ready to be picked, still needing time to grow. 

I've been trying to write for the Love Yourself Linkup for two days. And it has been a pattern of typing a paragraph, deleting a paragraph, typing, and deleting. Then repeat that a few more times. You see, I'm stuck.

To write the way I write best, solitude is essential. I can hardly hear myself clearly when I am surrounded by the things that I let myself get distracted by. Key phrase--let myself. I write best when I leave my house, take my computer or journal, and just go sit awhile. In the busiest coffee shop, I can find more solitude than in the quiet of my home at times. Can you relate? That has been me this week: Lacking solitude, even in the quiet and still that our home provides. And getting distracted --by everything.

Perhaps to love myself better, I need to extend more grace and be okay with not having my thoughts spilled out "on paper" or pieced together "on time". I need to love myself even when I'm stuck, distracted, or lacking the words.

The place I have found the most clarity this week has been in the pool. And while not much writing happens while swimming, ripening of thoughts and an intrinsic fulfillment so essential to reflection happens for me there. So, while I don't have much to write today for the Love Yourself Linkup, I wanted to share the quote that has lingered in my mind, over and over, while swimming this week.

"The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why."--Mark Twain

Here's to extending grace. Because I need to do it more often. Here's to being distracted. Since it seems to be my jam these days. Here's to the growing and ripening of thoughts. And the part where we wait and may lack words to fruition. Here's to the process of finding out why. Why we are born, what we are meant to do, and loving ourselves to the core while doing it. Loving ourselves, because we are worth every bit of it.

photo via 

E A T | d.i.y.

Have you ever come across something on Pinterest that you absolutely cannot get out of your mind? Like the world will not continue unless you make it, bake it, cook it, or what have you? I had one of those moments. This photo was it. And how simple the project--painted letters E A & T--and that's it! So I set out to Hobby Lobby, and eight dollars later, was able to let the world continue--because I had my own E A T letters. (Clean white subway tiled kitchen, to come at a later date).

You will need: Cardboard or wooden letters. Acrylic paint (my specific hue was citron). Paintbrush. Drop Cloth/Paper. How to: Spread out your drop cloth, or brown paper bag. Squirt out your paint. Paint your letters, allowing time to dry between painting every side. Que maravilla!

Matt liked to point out that after we "eat" we can more the E after the T and it will say A T E. I love this little simple project! And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why we DIY--for the feeling of giddiness and joy after standing back and looking at your little creation :)

It is Tuesday, so come back later for my Love Yourself Link Up post! Also, be sure to stop by on July 4th for a treat (HINT: It is three times the DIY!) Lastly, happy birthday Mom! 

Pinterest photo via