film

seeing this film strip done by the incredibly talented trevor hoehne....makes me miss the days in the city and pushes me to find my next adventure.

bring on year 24

This time last year I was celebrating turning 23 (tomorrow to be exact) sitting in 'the barn' of TOMS HQ with a room full of people who I had just met....AND just to clarify no TOMS does not have an actual barn its just the name of one of the meeting rooms that has these HUGE wooden doors. I think for most, spending your birthday at work...let alone a day FILLED with HR rules, employee introductions, paperwork etc. is not ideal or the idea of fun but it was fulfilling.

Looking back on that day I never would of thought I would of enjoyed spending my birthday at 'work', let alone with a room full of semi strangers...but that birthday and specific day was the start to one of the most growing years Ive had. That day was filled with a lot of mixed feelings but one of the feelings that resonated and overpowered over any feelings of disappointment was the feeling of joy and thankfulness, and I couldn't of asked for a better way to spend my birthday.

That day began the year of endless questions of defining who I am as a person, the things I am capable of and NOT capable..I was reminded of the joy in the simplicity of life and how much the gift of presence over presents is more of value.. I also dealt with a lot of things of my past that I just brushed under the rug hoping they would just take care of them selves....but they didn't and they surfaced, got dealt with and now my heart is in a better place.

It's in a better place because of the faithfulness that Jesus continues to pour into my life. For some, they seek out faith and the words that lie within the gospel when it comes to 'near life death experiences' but for me the same gospel that comes to rescue the needy in these 'near life death experiences' is the one I clinged to each day. If it can come to rescue those in these BIG events/tragedies how on earth could it not rescue the issues I have in everyday life?

I saw Jesus and the truth of gospel rescue and restore ME during this past year and I now know why those feeling of thankfulness and JOY resonated over any feelings of let down as I sat in the TOMS orientation. JOY AND THANKFULNESS triumphed over all emotions of disappointments that happened last year on Sept. 9th and the rest of the year...these emotions had set the theme for the year that came and went and I am eager to see what this year holds...bring on 24.

watercolor love

I recently developed a watercolor obsession. Anything that has that 'look' of watercolor I instantly swoon over it...I think it looks so whimsical and the color pigment in most of it is perfect.

Here is a just a few photo shoots and products that might make you a lover too:

this photo set is perfect! The styling and clothing is all done by the designer Permanent Vacation.

I am also a BIG lover of chevron so when I saw these invites done by Wiley Valentine, I knew they had to be shown for the world to see. How LOVELY are these? I want to host a party so I can send these little beauties out!

now if your in the mood to let your creative side out then head over to the ruffled blog and check out this tutorial on how to make your own soy candle and then create the little lovely watercolor tag. Now how cute are these Christmas card envelopes featured on the oh happy day blog?!?

and last but not least...an item featured from Anthropolgie. As great as their items are you know that also comes with quite the price tag. Like this submerged watercolor bathing suit featured on Splendora...this little suit will only cost you $298. HA I am convinved Anthro could sell you a tree branch and sand and sell it for $60+ and people would buy it just because its 'Anthro'.

Well hope you enjoyed this watercolor loveliness!

oh girls...

There is a girl who comes into the place I work at...she has a new boyfriend just about every time she walks in and this my friends is no exaggeration. Now for most their reaction to this type of news should be excitement for her because its someone new in her life, its love yada yada but for me every time I see a new guy walk in with her it makes me sad.

...It makes me sad for her not because she always has a boyfriend or it makes me wonder and think what else could be going on...but it breaks my heart because I know that she doesn't understand her value that she is as a women and she tries to find it in these guys.

A women wont understand or find her entire worth and identity if she is always trying to find it through another person... this can only be done by discovering it on your own as an individual and then once you've come to this 'point' of recognizing your worth...you can then position your self to share this with a significant other. The fulfillment of being with a 'new' boyfriend will only be temporary and if the guy lets you down or doesn't fill all of those needs that the heart of this women is needing she will continue to search for the next. It's cyclical and from the sound of her voice when she is introducing me to her new boyfriend it sounds tiring.

I can only hope that one day this girl will realize their is beauty in being single and embracing singleness and figuring out more and more of you by your self....and when an opportunity for love comes a long it will be a PURSUIT that was worth the wait.