influential meetup

Today I'm linking up with the wonderful women over at The Influence Network. Click the link to see what the network is all about ... you won't be disappointed!

We were asked to introduce ourselves, post 3 things interesting facts, 1 thing I have learned since joining the Network and one picture of ourselves that we love.  So, here goes!

Here's a quick little background about myself ... I started starting journaling on Homemade Bliss about a year ago, which was right after my itty bitty son was born. I needed a creative outlet (and a place to hash out all my crazy emotions + new memories) and writing has always been the way that I process and the balm to my soul. Little did I know that I would find such an amazing online community.

Anyways, here are 3 facts about myself that you might have not known already:

1. I wear scarves probably 5 out of 7 days of the week. Trademark? Perhaps.
2. I love making anything with my hands. (food, art projects, gardening)
3. I worked in one of the oldest architecture firms in downtown Chicago while I was finishing college.

And one thing that I'm loving/learning about the Influence Network:
(Besides the fact that online friendships are real and life changing.) I think I have really learned that I have influence that way that God made me and I need to trust that.  I have influence with my son, my husband, the person bagging my groceries, the women I speak with out in the community ... etc.    

Well, there you go!  Thanks for stopping by. I'm excited to dig deeper + deeper in this community of women.  

***

the choice

{source}

I sit down and try to write.  It's almost like I have so many thoughts just bouncing around in my head and I'm trying to slow down to catch one of them to savor and put down on paper.  But, alas I'm too slow.  The thoughts escape out of my hands before I can grasp them and I sit there, feeling overwhelmed.

Overwhelmed, but excited.

I have emotions and inspirations pulsating through me.  I'm starting to see beauty and life and purpose in things that seemed dormant before.

I feel alive again after a season of hibernating.

I want to sit and savor.  Savor the streams of sunlight hitting the wood floor.  Savor the baby coos that are quickly turning to babbling + talking.  Savor the endless inspiration I have for creative project after creative project.  Savor the courageous vulnerability that is daring inside of me.

So, that's what I'm choosing to do.  I'm slowing down to savor.  To taste.  To see.  To feel.  To appreciate.

And to prepare myself for the moving part that will follow.  The part where the pen hits the page.  The brush strokes the canvas.  The details and determination come into play.  Action.

Because, I'm so good with the inspiration.  With the thinking.  And the over-thinking.

But, the action is another story.  With intentionality comes vulnerability.  

Some times it's safe to stay in the thinking part.  But, I don't want to stay safe.  I don't want to be comfortable.  So often I've complained of being paralyzed, creatively dry, lacking purpose, searching for beauty with no beauty to find.

I'm deciding that action is a choice.  A choice I want to be daring enough to make.

So, I'm going to allow myself to savor for a little while.  Soak it all in.

And then, I'm going to step out in faith and out of fear.

Because this life is meant to be lived.

And I'm going to live it.

times files

my husband was out of state last week for work, so i got to spend a lot of quality time with this little love bug.  everyone says that time flies when you have kids.  it's almost like my little boy is a daily visual of how fast time is flying by.  it's causing me to really want to press pause and savor every little moment.  

next month, ramsey turns one.  

one. 

(cue freak out). 

i can't believe that last year at this time i was preparing to bring a little babe into the world.  i also can't believe how many misconceptions i had about being a mom.  i read and researched as much as i could and i was dead set on a lot of things.  

and then, ramsey came along.  and he was the one teaching me. 

i have never learned as much in these last 11 months than i have my entire life and i would never change a thing.   

this little boy is a mirror into how i act and love.  (... and that has been so hard to swallow at times.)  

i am so thankful for the ups and downs.  the adventures.  the laughs.  the middle of the night thoughts.  

i'm so thankful that god has entrusted me to be the one that loves on him and teaches him.  

i'm your biggest fan, baby boy.  

granola. the best ever.

Every week I try to make a batch of granola for my husband and I to eat for breakfast and snacks. Not only is it way healthier than something you might buy at the store, but it also saves us money and is so unbelievably good. I made another batch the other day, and while I was eating copious amounts of it right off the baking sheet, I thought to myself ... "other people NEED this recipe!!".

So, here you go.

Ingredients
* 2 cups old fashioned oats
* 1 1/2 cups nuts/seeds of your choice (we love a mixture of almonds + pumpkin seeds)
* 1/3 cup olive oil
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (i'm a cinnamon addict, so i add a little bit more)
* pinch of nutmeg
* pinch of ginger
* 1/3 cup honey or maple syrup
* 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/4 cup dried fruit (optional)

Directions
Mix together the oats + nuts/seeds in a large bowl.
Add the olive oil + honey (or maple syrup) and stir.
Add in spices + vanilla. Stir well.
Spread the mixture out on a baking sheet covered in parchment paper.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. (Stir every 10ish minutes to make sure everything bakes evenly.  I have forgotten to stir once or twice, and the granola comes out in larger chunks--which is nice for snacking on.  Either way you're good ... experiment!)
**If you are adding dried fruit, add it during the last 10 minutes of baking.

This kind of recipe is my favorite --- You can experiment with what different combinations of nuts or fruit you choose to add in. I usually make it with whatever we have left in our pantry. Feel free to great creative.

Also, it's so stinkin' easy!!  I can mix it together quick with a little babe playing around my feet for a few minutes during our mid-morning "search through the bottom cupboards and use bowls for hats" routine.

Enjoy!

FYI: I found this recipe about a year ago via Emma.

this week's inspiration

Playroom teepees.  I know, I know.  They're everywhere.  But I just can't stop thinking about how much fun it would be to have one!

Great post about "personal style and pinterest"via Hollywood Housewife.

Recipe: Delicious recipe using brussel sprouts from Cup of Jo.  I've made these about 4 times now.  I crave these in my sleep.

Tutorial: Super simple photoshop tutorial from Rebecca of Mable Kate. I greatly appreciated this since I am a self-taught photoshop lover and user! (Also, Rebecca is a just a sweet, sweet friend... love her and her blog.)

Favorite iPhone Picture of the Week: 
I am soaking up any kisses and snuggles I can get from this active and adventures little boy.

Happy Weekend-ing.

ephesians 2:10

for we are god's masterpiece. 

he created us anew in christ jesus, 

so we can do the things he planned for us long ago. 

eph. 2:10

***

this verse continues to come to me while i'm running.  showering.  writing.  making dinner.  when i'm trying to get comfortable and fall asleep at night.  

for some reason, i can't shake it.  it's a verse that i've heard time and time again, but it's starting to take on a different meaning to me.  

we are his workmanship.  his masterpiece.  

masterpiece?  really?  do i really believe that and live that out? 

we are designed.  we have unique purpose.  unique perspective.  unique lives, characteristics, quirks, and passions.  (and, let me tell you, i've been blessed with many quirks.  endearing quirks as we like to call them in our house.)

i'm starting to realize the power this verse has when i meditate on it and believe it.  i'm realizing that my mind has such power over how i feel and live.  if i think about myself and my life in a certain way, i'm going to start to believe whatever it is my mind is telling me.  the version of myself that god sees is still there, it's just buried under layers and walls of other lies and stories i've told myself.  and living from behind all those walls and barriers is so suffocating and destructive.

our minds are so powerful. 

but, thankfully, god is even more powerful. 

i'm finding that this has to be a daily reminder for me.  a renewal of my mind right before my feet hit the chilly floor.  

also, how amazing + beautiful is the book of ephesians?  i've always felt a tug towards it, but i'm loving it more and more each time i come back to read through it. 

have a wonderful day, everyone!

love day

Today's the day. Whether you like it or not, hearts and chocolate are everywhere and love is in the air. My husband and I don't really go all out for Valentine's day. We tend to write each other a little note (which, I LOVE. Written words are make my heart melt.) and I eat some crazy amount of chocolate (so stereotypical, right?!). Last year, I was gifted with a dozen cupcakes. That was glorious. Wow.

Anyways, I guess today has me thinking a lot about relationships. Now, I've only been married for a handful of years, but I've learned quite a few lessons none-the-less. Here are my 'top ten' reminders and love lessons. These were so great for me to write out ...

1) My husband does not, and will not, complete me. He won't always make me happy and make me feel like I'm walking on clouds every where I go. Thinking through this perspective only sets me up for hurt and sets him up for failure. (I learned this the hard way.) He's human, too! God is the only one that can fill me, give me purpose, and light me up.
2) He doesn't see with the same eyes I do. I see a messy kitchen, he sees a fun family night cooking together. I see my postpartum, soft body and he sees a strong woman that he is more attracted to than ever before.
3) Ice cream is so much more fun when it's shared. and eaten out of the carton. in bed.
4) In his eyes, I'm always beautiful. Always. See it, feel it, believe it.
5) He can't read my mind. (I still forget this ...)
6) Sharing a calendar together and setting weekly tasks/goals has to happen weekly/daily.
7) Elaborate dinners don't always have to happen. Cereal with peanut butter is a life saver.
8) Raising a little boy that has the same spunk and crave for adventure (not to mention his smile!) as your husband will make you cry and melt, time and time again.
9) Believe him when you ask "are you okay? what's wrong" and he replies "Yeah, I'm fine. Nothing's wrong". He means it. Digging deeper will only frustrate you and him.
10) Have intellectual conversations over coffee, at the dinner table, and late at night in bed. Ask the hard questions. Talk about politics, faith, life, art, inspiration.
10.5) Coffee always helps any situation.
11) He doesn't mind that I don't fit the typical wife and mom mold, so I should stop trying to fit myself into it. He supports me and wants to me to be my unique self.
12) I don't have to be everything. I just need to be me. He loves me when I own that.