Happy valentines day!

Happy Valentines to all my loved ones, friends and family! Have a blessed day and know that God loves you greatly!

Snapshots

Here are a few snaps of my January. Its been sooooo cold in Minnesota, pretty much record breaking. It was fun though, my college friend Katrina came up for a sleepover and we watched the Golden Globes together. I also just hosted a Super bowl party with my truly wonderful neighbors. I'm glad that I can utilize my apartment so well, despite it being so small. I love to share my home with others. Have a great start to your February everyone!

1. Looking through my pictures on a warm day, listening to the snow melting off the roof.

2. My cat loves the new rug I bought! What a goof.

3. A mixed drink I made at my Super Bowl Party, truly tasty. Heres the link for the recipe!

4. My cat also loves my "new" vintage, velvet couches. So does her hair. :(

5. My beautiful friend Katrina and I enjoying coffee at a local coffee shop on her visit.

A "Very late" Christmas party post

These photos are very late, (and blurry, sorry only an iPhone for pictures) but better late than never I always say! I had the perfect opportunity to update my blog considering its -20 degrees outside and i'm hibernating until this arctic blast is over! I had my new "housemates" over for a meet-n-greet Christmas party in December and it was a blast! I love these ladies already and we get along very nicely. All the boyfriends were busy so we got to have some good girl time. I made puppy chow, and the girls brought home-made salsa, meatballs and various treats.
I made spiked cranberry rum which was oh so tasty, and you can find the recipe here.

Have a safe and happy new year! I have many things I want to improve on this year. Most of all I am thankful for all I already have.

Merry Christmas

I hope all of your Christmas' were fantastic! Mine was, I got to see my newest nephew, Judah, for the first time! Here he is, isn't he adorable!

Happy new year to you all! 

Be thankful

It's easier said than done, to be thankful, to be content. I'll be honest, I've been having a really rough time lately being content and thankful. Things in life have really been knocking me down lately at work and in life. I see photos of people that I once knew in high school or college with their cute families and still looking as skinny as I first met them (how is this possible??) and I look at my own life and I feel bleak. I'm not married, stressed all the time, and usually broke. (lol) I miss old friends, sometimes (more than I care to mention) wish I WAS them, living their lives. This is actually something I've struggled with for a good few years now, wishing I was someone else, someone who had it more together. Someone who has a career and family about them. But man! God wants me to feel free! To remember to be content in any circumstance, no matter how difficult. The disciples in the bible had nothing, and traveled all over in the name of Jesus, sometimes being abused for it and in the end, dying for it. In the face of thankfulness and peace, how can I not be content? So thats pretty much the key then: being thankful. I can look at others and live my life in regret and bitterness, or I can embrace myself for being myself, along with all my imperfections that for some reason, God loves about me. I could really cry about how hard it is sometimes, but while life is meant to be free and joyful, it's also a battle. The thing to remember though is that the battle is already won! If I have any unhappy or negative thoughts about myself or my life, I have to ask myself, who's making me think this? Is it God or satan? Ummmm 9 out of 10 times it's satan. (The stupid little bugger!) Don't believe the lies! You ARE worth it, you are where you are supposed to be, and you are blessed. This was kind of a soul-baring post for me…hope you take something from it, in lieu of our recent past holiday of Thanksgiving…which needs to be EVERYDAY, and will be everyday for me, no matter how hard it can be.

Happy (and I really do mean HAPPY) Holidays!

"Pin"spiration

I FINALLY got a Macbook Pro, and I couldn't be happier. I just have to get used to typing on a real keyboard again! It also means that I able to blog easier and more frequently, something i've been dying to be able to do for quite some time. I also recently just moved to a new studio apartment in a vintage brick house, which I'm in love with. Until I completely move in and make it even more perfect and show you pictures, here is some "pin"spiration for my apartment. You can follow me here.

1: It's no secret that I love plants. This is a great way to arrange them.
2: I absolutely need and adore this rug.
3: This needs to be on my kitchen wall!
4: I love the natural light in this kitchen

Kinfolk Inspiration

So I know I was gonna post pics from my camping trip but I really wanted to post this first.

I was sitting in my living room, watching "Yes Man" when I knew I needed to go out on my porch. I picked up my latest copy of Kinfolk and headed out with my pipe and thoroughly enjoyed a good read. It is so perfect and beautiful out today, just the perfect blend of breeze, coolness and sunshine. I was thus inspired to write a post on things that can refresh you after a long workweek. I just worked a long weekend filled with doubles and poop everywhere (I am a NA/R in a nursing home) so I now have two days off with which I plan on much relaxing. Here's some inspiration for you if you need to mellow out and recharge. :)

1. Start your day off with a sunrise or end it with a sunset

The basic concept here is to connect with God's nature, admire and just...be. I love to sleep in until I naturally wake up so I catch the sunsets, but maybe you're a go-getter that loves an early adventure!

2. Go for a drive to an unknown destination 

Maybe you're a person who loves to plan... Just go somewhere and don't have an idea where you'll end up! Find someplace you've never been before. Who knows? It may end up being a new tradition to traverse back to that same spot.

3. Find a nearby farmers market and splurge

                       

There are few things I love more than a farmers market. Get some fresh, organic food and make a fantastic dinner that night! Bonus: you're supporting local farmers.

4. Find a river or lake 

Little compares to the soothing nature of the sounds of a rippling river or the soft waves of water on a lakes shoreline. Just lay and listen or wade in. Feel the sand between your toes or the river rocks underneath your feet, the water swirling around your calves. Let the sun shine lightly on your face, the shadows of the trees dancing on your closed eyelids.

5. Pick some windflowers 

Put them in a mason jar on your kitchen table, or wind them in your hair. The season of flowers is going to quickly draw to a close soon...make the most of it!

6. Find and eat something new

I stepped into a Whole Foods for the first time the other day. I was in awe of all the things there and I had to try their French macarons and fresh gelato. I tried a raspberry, a passion fruit, and a pastachio macaron (pastachio was my favorite) and a scoop of lemon sorbet gelato. So yummy!

7. Rearrange or decorate your space

Finally, I enjoy rearranging and decorating my home. It definitely recharges me. Like this corner in my bedroom for example. I got this antique chair from a garage sale near my apartments for, get this: a buck! I brought it up three stories by myself and created a private place in my room to do my quiet times with God. With having a roommate it was essential i find my own personal place. I feel that everyone needs that one place in your home where you traditionally feel relaxed and at home so you can concentrate on connecting with God or just to connect with yourself!

There are so many things you can do, such as baking something, make bread from scratch, go get a coffee from a local coffee shop even if you can make it at home. But above all, just learn to enjoy the process and just...be...you. And be thankful.

Enjoy!