inquiring – novel – unconventional – interested – rare
Thanks to my new favorite place, the Funky Buddha Yoga Hothouse, I’ve decided to adopt some mantras.
Happy like a fool. Let it take over you.
And most importantly…
Begin again. Always, begin again.
Now those are words I can live by. Love it, all around.
This past year has been an amazing one. Not only did I spend two months volunteering in Costa Rica but I also became engaged to the most loving, wonderful man while we were there. On top of that, I’ve transitioned into a new position at work and spent time with family and friends making great memories.
Now, in the first days on 2011, I can’t help but think that it is going to be an amazing year. I’ll be getting married, Todd and I will establish the first home that will truly be our own, many of my friends will be getting married and some will be expecting their first little ones. So, in contemplating what this year will bring, I’ve been thinking about goals for the coming year. Here are a few things that I hope to accomplish this year.
I’m off to a good start. Today I finished my first book of the year and bought materials for learning French and in a few weeks, Todd and I will being our pre-marital counseling which I am really looking forward to. So, although I’m not one to make resolutions, I’m resolved to make the next year the best it can be. Cheers!
Everyone knows that life has its seasons. We goes through ups and downs and come out better for it. Lately I’ve been feeling tired, stressed, self-conscious and unsure of where things are headed. I have not been my best self and I know that and I wake up a few days per week telling myself that today will be different and sometimes it is – and sometimes it’s not.
In the last few days I have been so lucky to find such amazing bright spots in the midst of these feelings.
Time spent with friends in the last week has been so restorative and welcome. It’s easy to just come home from work and call it a day without catching up with the people who I don’t see every day but this week I spent time laughing with and enjoying the company of friends. I felt genuinely happy while spending time with the people who I really enjoy.
On top of that, Matt’s visit home marked the first time our whole family had been together since Thanksgiving 2009 – far too long. Time spent with my family reminds me of how lucky I am to be loved completely by them despite any (every) flaw I have. I feel so blessed to have such a great family. It’s really amazing to share, and continure to write and re-write, a history with such a great group of people.
You can always count and family and good friends to buoy you and lift you up.
And then came some unexpected affirmations…
A few Christmases ago I was at church and our pastor read us a letter that he had written. I loved what he said. I shared it with my family because I wanted them to hear those words of grace and peace and to understand how I felt when I heard them. And then Saturday, by pure coincidence, I was reminded of that letter and found a copy in my email and read it again and those words, that beautiful message of how things could be, has taken over my thoughts in such a good way because reading things like that can remind me of a place where I was and have wandered away from and remind me that I am always welcome to go back. Selah.
Then today, I went to a hot yoga class just to try it out. And in the middle of my down dog I hear the instructor say “Remember, you are beautiful just the way you are.” and later, “Let it go, you can let it go.” and then, “Whatever you are able to do is exactly what you should do.” and finally, “You are shining, beautiful people.” sprinkled with “Excellent.”, “Great.”. The whole class continued without even a single instance of correction – so commonplace in all of the classes I’ve attended at different gyms over the years. I left feeling relaxed, sweaty, great about myself for trying and happy to have been there. I even lingered a bit at the end.
It is with humble gratitude that I accept all of these unexpected affirmations, these unexpected reminders that when I am feeling down it won’t last. A reminder that my ugly thoughts about others can become more positive – that I am not on an inevitable path towards discontent. I am thankful that others are more in tune with the good life has to offer and that they are willing to share reminders with me, with strangers.
the old way
the way of condemnation
the one where we have this endless internal dialogue
a tape in our head that plays on endless repeat
telling us that we’re not good enough
that we haven’t proven ourselves
that we aren’t pretty enough
that we aren’t working hard enough
that our sins are simply too grave to be reconciled or redeemed
that we’re too heavy, too old, too slow, too stupid, too damaged
too weak to be capable of change
those are the old voices
we’ve been down that road
we’ve played that game
we’ve swam in that stream
the old way—that’s the way that we’re leaving behind
what we saw Paul doing again and again
is passionately urging a new phronesis—a new pattern of
thinking, acting and feeling
a Christ pattern
and it begins with grace and peace
grace is gift
it begins with our wide-eyed wonder and awe that all of this is a gift
the ‘this’ is of course many things
it’s the love of the father
the gift of the son
it’s the unexpected soothing reassurance of the Spirit who whispers sometimes in the most
hopeless of moments:
“you’re going to be fine”
[…] it’s the person who has always lived with this need to judge others
who has this compulsion to put everybody around them in
one of their categories
always looking for what’s wrong with that person
what they don’t get
what they don’t do
how they don’t measure up
whether they’re on the right team or not
and then all of a sudden that doesn’t work
they realize that all that energy spent condemning and measuring
and analyzing others was to avoid turning the spotlight inward
on themselves
because that would be terrifying
but recently they’ve encountered grace and peace
and they’re becoming free to embrace the other
the stranger
the one they would have kept at a distance
they’re learning to accept things
accept people
as they are
because they’re learning that
God
accepts
them
exactly
as
they
are.
oh, grace and peace. ” -r. bell
I end up spending more time than I should doing online shopping – well, it’s really more like online window shopping since I’m definitely on a budget. Even though I’m not in a position to fill my closet with every little thing I want, at least I have some inspiration for the next (first) time I have a surprise bonus in my paycheck. Hope you like my picks!
1) j.crew: drapey bateau top.
my search for a nautical top + my search for a top with embellished shoulders = fulfilled. love.
2) interesting bracelets from banana republic
sprinkled gems bracelet - kissing bangle - new year's bracelet
3) anlo jordan dress in blue leopard
i’m not much for animal prints but i love this look that reese witherspoon recently wore while filming in vancouver.
reese witherspoon in her anlo dress
Back in March, I read The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff, a murder mystery involving the Fundamentalist Church of Latter-Day Saints – better know as polygamist sect of the Mormon church. Read my original blog post about the book here.
While flipping through the channels tonight, I saw that Lifetime was premiering their made-for-TV version of The 19th Wife. They seem to be focusing on the modern-day story more than the historical aspect of the book but 26 minutes in, I’m not planning on changing the channel. The book was great and I’m sure the movie will at least be entertaining even though Lifetime movies get a bad rap.
Since it’s a Lifetime movie I’m sure there will be more airings. For more on the TV movie visit Lifetime’s official “19th Wife” site.
I recently decided to browse Etsy.com at the suggestion of my trusty Martha Stewart Weddings magazine. In case you don’t know, Etsy is, as they put it, “Your place to buy and sell all things handmade, vintage and supplies”. I had never really looked at the site before, having only been to it once or twice and feeling overwhelmed by the selection. But, if you known what you’re looking for: “dress cookies”, “paper pom pom”, “silver necklace”, et cetera it’s the perfect place to shop. Not only are the offerings unique, they’re often really affordable and always creative.
Anyways, it was maybe two weeks ago when I decide to browse the site again. Shortly thereafter, I made my first Etsy purchase – “Will You Be My Bridesmaid?” cookies. Since I’m out of the country, I’ve been so ready to ask the girls to be part of our wedding day but wanted to find a more personal way than sending an email. These were the perfect fit. I had found several on other websites but they were so expensive! With shipping I would have had to pay almost $25 each, just ridiculous. The Amy Bakes shop (check it out here) on Etsy offered the perfect cookies at a great price. Best of all, she customized them, added a personal note and sent them individually to each of the girls. I couldn’t have asked for better service!
Here’s a photo of the final product:
In addition to baked goods, Etsy offers a ton of other products. I’ve also ordered a t-shirt from neena creates and a clutch from ModDiva. The t-shirt is adorable, it’s chili red and plain except for where is reads “te amo” (“I love you” in Spanish) across the bust. And the clutch is so sweet and the perfect size for all of my necessities when I don’t feel like carrying a purse.
"Te Amo" Tee
Poppies Clutch
I already have things picked out on Etsy for bridesmaid gifts and reception decor and I can’t wait to keep browsing, it really is addicting!
Even though we’re in Costa Rica and that makes it really hard to plan the wedding, I’ve been trying to do everything I can. This means a lot of browsing through websites, thinking about things I like and don’t and browsing through my treasured copy of Martha Stewart Weddings. I’ve been able to pick things like a color scheme (yellow and grey) and possible vendors, photographers, caterers and venues.
One of the most fun things I’ve done so far was make an inspiration board. It’s just a collection of different ideas and things that I like and that I’d like to build off of to come up with the perfect choices for my wedding day. Just fun, bright with a little bit of whimsy thrown in. I hope you like it, the bright colors just makes me so happy when I look at it!
While in Costa Rica, Todd asked me to marry him and, of course, I said “Yes”!
Read all about the proposal at http://toddandkate.wordpress.com .
We’re so excited!
After months of planning, a week of goodbye-ing and days of packing, Todd and I are so excited to be leaving tomorrow morning for Costa Rica. We’ll arrive to San José tomorrow evening then continue our journey to Playa Potrero in the morning.
Follow our adventure at: http://toddandkate.wordpress.com.
Pura Vida, here we come!
Thank you, South Carolina.
Coons for Sale
Get 'Em Here
kate @ pomelo sunshine
cu·ri·ous kate 