Recommended - Winter

I know I'm late to the party, but happy December, y'all!   I've had a lot of things needing my time and energy over the last month, but I wanted to check back in and bring you some happy wintry things.

The colder weather means it's time to check out Sarah Von Bargen's How to Hygge.  I also recommend downloading the small workbook, for some extra oomph to encourage you to take those steps enjoy the winter.

On the other hand, if you're already frustrated with the cold weather, watch this young polar bear flip out over his ice pool.  I'm pretty sure he won't mind if you live vicariously through him.

Jonna Jinton's Instagram makes winter look so magical.  All we need to do is pack up and move to northern Sweden!

How to make sure your winter clothes last well beyond the season (and an extra post about taking care of your winter sweaters)

Along with colder temperatures and less sunshine, winter can often bring seasonal affective disorder.  Here is a small piece of encouragement form Stephen Hawking and 13 things to remember when you love a person who has depression.  Let's hear it for self care!

If you have any minimalist folks in your life and don't know where to start in gift giving, check out this helpful starter guide.

How to get your kids to have the best photos with Santa from The Ugly Volvo

Look at these sugar doilies!  How delicate and pretty!

Gift ideas: Stocking stuffer inspiration from Terrain and these proposed wish lists from 1913

I couldn't pick just one, I wanted to share one, two, and tree pretty houses decorated for Christmas (I am so digging the Scandinavian look these days).  Speaking of Scandi style, IKEA has a winter coupon for $25 off $150.

If you're ready to move on from 2016, I highly recommend checking out this list of moving forward ideas for the new year from Yes and Yes.

Related: Denali National Park has a sled dog puppy cam!

Recommended for Election week

Hello again, friends.  We've made it to Friday.  We'll probably make it to next Friday, too.  It's going to be okay.

To be honest, this week threw me for much more of a loop than I expected.  I didn't think Trump would become America's next president, I didn't anticipate an uprising in hateful actions, and I didn't expect so much hurt and anger and sadness to be swirling around in the atmosphere here (you can read more of my thoughts here).  Chances are, you might be in need of some lighthearted, beautiful, and comforting things like I am.

Take care of yourself.  In fact, take extra care of yourself.  And let me know how you're doing.
xo



If you've been feeling stressed lately, check out this gif that can help with anxiety.

I've heard lots about the benefits of meditation, but it's not always easy to integrate the practice into my life (because, it is, after all, life).  Here's a simple idea for making meditation happen.

Why you should keep going

Thanks to Yes and Yes for a list of ways to stop caring about what other people thing and this awesome reminder:
"Know that people’s judgment is 95% about them and 5% about you."

 The happiest fox and hound friendship!

These moms in Seattle have figured out what I think is a huge lesson in motherhood: shared community is crucial to having the best support possible!  I wish this kind of environment would be the reality for all moms, and I hope I'll be able to be a part of something like this when it's my turn. 

These colored botanical tattoos are lovely (and inspiring...).

A beautiful Swedish chapel has been turned into a home

I am loving this pretty and simple Christmas ornament display.  I don't think Caleb and I will be able to have a tree this year (we'll be out of town for much of December, so it doesn't make much sense to have a tree), but maybe we could try something like this to decorate our home for the holidays.

Did you see these stunning photos on Portuguese Man O' Wars? My cousin told me National Geographic posted them on their Snapchat, and that's why I decided to give Snapchat another chance.

A hopeful perspective for 2016 America

image : CNN

September 26, 2017 Edit:
I am embarrassed that it took me this long to write an addition to this post, but instead of turning my face for even longer, I wanted to finally voice my opinion that President Trump has let the American people down royally, let alone the world. While I stand by giving someone a chance, not holding their past mistakes over their future, and freely distributing grace to those promising to turn over a new leaf, it's hard not to judge my ideal self harshly when I remember that we knew what Trump was like all along. The Access Hollywood tape, the name calling, the disrespectful mocking. Of course we think of those things when we look at how he treats NFL players he disagrees with. Because it's all the same.

I hope to high heaven that the good that comes from Trump's presidency will be loud and strong: American people coming together against racism, bullying, and the idea that if you disagree with someone, they are less than you. May we take his example of how to not be a good human being to heart, and may we all be the change we want to see in this country and on this planet. May we not trust our government to do the good work for us, and may we stand up and kneel down for what we believe in. (end edit)

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Today has been an emotional and shocking day for myself and most of the people around me.  I have the privilege of having many friends in many circles, and I wanted to shed some light on little known perspectives that I believe will be helpful for both Trump and Hillary supporters.  I shared this message on my personal Facebook page, and I wanted to make it public here, too.

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Hey friends, I wanted to share a bit, please read.

The election results have been incredibly divisive today. If you haven't yet seen it, you should know that the majority of minorities (racial, sexual, etc.) (aka a ton of your fellow Americans) are hurt and afraid of a Trump administration. They are hurt and afraid because they believe that not only is our next president is sexist, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, and uncaring about our environment's well being, but that the half of America that voted for him is, too.

It is an unfortunate lie that a vote for Trump is a vote for hate, one that I know the media constantly portrayed (one example being the picture I used above from CNN's website). In fact, from what I've seen, most/many folks who voted for Trump didn't really like their choice, but they felt he had the best chance to bring change to the country or they voted for him only because they strongly stood for one point of his platform rather than everything he stands for. For example, many evangelical Christians who voted for Trump did so only because they think abortion is morally wrong. Plenty voted for him only because they thought it was a safer vote than Hillary, war-wise (no one wants another Vietnam). Some voted for him because they thought he'd be the best chance for a better American economy thanks to his business background and distance from the general politics arena. I'm sure many voted for him just because they're loyal to the Republican party.

To Trump haters: Don't allow yourself to believe that because Trump won so many votes that half of America is a hateful group of bigots; that's just not true. Sure, many of them are (there are jerks in every section of America), but that is not what a Trump win means.

To Hillary haters: Show the other half what your motives truly are through your actions. BE a better, kinder, more beautiful society. Be caring, be kind, and be gracious, especially during this highly emotional season for so many Americans.

To everyone: Respectfully listen to one another. We're all in this together, and we all ultimately want a better country. Discussion and respectful debates are the first steps to help us get there.

One silver lining I’ve been able to find is that I believe this will be a tipping point for our society, especially in Atlanta where I live. As we see the government shifting, may we realize that, really, it’s up to US to make America beautiful and great. It’s not the President’s responsibility to set the tone for our country, it’s ours. And how good is it that love and progress and equality are louder and more powerful than their opposites?

In that light, I think there can be great good that comes from this, on a more local, personal level, and that is one thing I can be excited about.

Like Hillary said in her concession speech, we owe Trump a chance to do a good job. I’m glad that he seems to be taking this seriously and his line “The forgotten men and women will be forgotten no longer” is something I will hold him to. So many Americans voted for him because they believe he will bring us good change. I AM nervous, but I'm also choosing to be brave and hopeful.

Finally, I know the fear refreshes every election cycle, but this is the first time I’ve been in the thick of things and with many friends who are so upset. I wish this wasn’t so divisive, I wish people weren't hurting so much, and I know we'll make it through. Feel free to comment or message me privately to further the conversation, and I hope your heart turns toward the good things in your life today. I'm going to be visiting a park with my dog later this afternoon myself.

Recommended further reading/listening:

It's Going to Be Okay, by Wait But Why

A great sermon by Louie Giglio about the Church's response to the election (for Christians, mainly)

Bite-sized stories from readers of The Hustle on who they voted for and why (Read this to start the trend of listening to others with differing opinions.)

Recommended for October

I haven't pushed out a lot of these posts lately, mainly because I haven't been exploring that many new recipes, and I always want to leave you with someone tangible instead of just links to read in your spare time.  In lieu of new foods to try, I'll probably be sharing some songs I enjoy instead.  The main thing, though, is that I have been coming across a lot of interesting information, beautiful work, and exciting discoveries I've wanted to share.  Without further ado, here's another edition of Recommended!


^ First, this is a new song for me.  I have this on my Sky playlist where I keep my light and positive songs, and I love the whimsy in the melody and the sweet vocals.  Do you like it?

Did you know you're not supposed to refrigerate tomatoes and that orange juice isn't really that good for you?  Check out these new food facts.

Instagram has made a new, amazing change!

Speaking of social media, did you see that Vine is shutting down??

I had the pleasure of listening to this beautiful piece read aloud this morning on a podcast from The Liturgists (which I also recommend), and I encourage you to read it through when you have a chance. It's about the beauty, strength, and dignity of a woman's body throughout her life, in the context of a Christian environment, which, as many of us know, isn't always known for responding well to the feminine.  I shared further on a Facebook post, and I wanted to share here, too:

The idea of women being less has been a strange, unfortunate struggle I've been working through for many years. It's not constant for me, I'm not routinely put down due to my sex by any means, and many of the offenses I do receive are results of miscommunication, cultural, or personality differences. I consider my story to be moderate, but I know that my moderate story isn't the story of all women. There are many who have lived through overt and predatory assault and also subtle and insidious lies about their worth as women. There are many, many ways we as a culture, a society, And We As A Church need to change the story. I don't have all the answers, in fact, I'd really like to hear what you think about all this, but I do think this piece could be a starting point of changing our perspectives.

I follow Kimi Werner's aquatic adventures on Instagram, and last week she taught me that the chemicals in our sunscreens are harming ocean life!  Even though beach weather is on it's way out of the Northern Hemisphere, I wanted to pass along her recommendation of Avasol's sunscreens, which are good for you AND the planet.

This piece of encouragement

What a happy, amazing, and adorable story!

These thermal nails are amazing.  When I asked, the artist responded saying she "layered the colors and then used polish remover and a Qtip to take away" the layers.  I could never have that patience!

Having a healthy or unhealthy gut will affect your brain.  Our bodies can be so bizarre, and I guess it's time for me to start having yogurt for breakfast again.

Minimalist rustic

I realized last week that if I could find a beautiful way to marry minimalism with a rustic aesthetic, I might find my perfect happy space.  I had no idea how to blend these two very different ideals, but some inspiration came to my inbox just today!  Check out these beautiful rooms on Bloglovin that combine both of my interior design goals (plants included).

If you know of any other places where I can find similar minimalism + rustic combos, let me know!  Maybe one day I'll be able to add some of my own pictures to the internet!

P.s. Would you say rustic minimalism?  Or does minimalist rustic make sense?
You might also be interested in this collage of minimalist planter ideas or this Atlanta treehouse available on Airbnb (now up to $350/night, though!).

The importance of reading

I've never thought about it much until recently, but reading makes a huge difference in a person.  In how they think, carry themselves, and engage with the world.  I've realized that it's almost easy to distinguish between people who read and people who don't without asking them explicitly.

My Personal Leadership professor, Dr. Myers, strongly encouraged us to read.  It's the easiest, most accessible way to expand yourself and challenge yourself.  Books are deep resources there for the taking, they're even free to borrow from the library.  Why not stretch and enrich yourself?

My favorite posts I've written

One of the challenges I had in my 101 challenge list was to keep a running collection of favorite blog posts I've written.  I'm not sure why I wanted to do this back when I wrote my challenge list, but I'm glad I did.  I had a fun time roving through my published posts, remember the stories I wrote, and reliving the passion when I had these great topics to write about.  It's been a good retrospective, and it's shown me a bit more of where I've been and of how I'd like to use my space in the future.

Here's my list of favorites, and I hope to add to this list later on!

• In Response to the Boycott on Target's Inclusive Restrooms  ::  When I saw Christians behaving in a way I thought to be unloving, I wanted to take a stand.  It's scary to talk about such volatile topics, but it's also a bit of an adrenaline rush.
• Why I won't be watching The Walking Dead anymore  ::  I know that I'm different, and I don't want to push my boundaries on anyone, but I do want others to know that having boundaries is okay.
• 3 Reasons Why I Believe in Counseling (and why I think everyone should go) ::  It's always invigorating to share things I'm passionate about.  I wish everyone could read and be moved by this post.
• Inspiration for minimalist hanging planters & DIY Lace Project Inspiration  ::  I wrote these posts when I was trying something new for my blog that hasn't stuck yet, but I still love the aesthetics and subject matter.  I had a lot of fun with these two posts.
• 3 Things I Learned in My First Year of Marriage  ::  Vulnerability in weakness and growth is an important part of helping others, and I feel brave for sharing some of what I've learned.
• How We Threw a Japanese Dinner Party (with tips!)  ::  This post has been tossed around Pinterest and a few other blogs, and I'm really proud to have written something so helpful!
• Women doing awesome things  ::  I didn't write much in this post, but I still love this small collection, and I don't want to cut things like this out of my blog.
• 12 Facts About Birth Control That You Should Know  ::  When I had to choose my own birth control, I felt so lost on where to start, what to believe, and what would be the best choice for me.  I really hope that my research helps other girls with similar decisions!
• New Obsession: Mori Style  ::  I remember looking for mori style pictures for so long one late night at the kitchen table.  I was so excited to share about this pretty, feminine fashion!
• Gwanghwamun Photography Date  ::  My friend Steph and I visited Korea's palace area with the specific purpose to take pictures, and it was a blast!
• Vacation: Boracay, The Philippines  ::  There are a few photos I really, really like in this post.  I'm so glad I got to visit not just as a tourist and that I got to interact with the people and culture.  The best way to travel, I think.
• Totally the Coolest Find in Seoul: Alice in Wonderland English Park  ::  This is still just the coolest.  Heavily processed photos, but still awesome.
• What Not to do with your Alien Registration Card  ::  This is one of my favorite stories I've ever had the pleasure to write!
• What They Call Me In Preschool  ::  My darling preschool class, they're so precious to me.
• An open letter to expats  ::  I think this was one of my first times writing with conviction about perspectives I wanted to change in others.  I still stand by what I saw.
• The Story of Mr. Gene  ::  This one's another favorite story.  The great news is that Mr. Gene and I became friends and he ended up publishing his book!

Recommended from July (whith whisky chocolate chip cookies)

I've been keeping track of links to share like I used to, but for a while, I'll be running a big Recommended post each month instead of each week.  Hopefully three weeks absence will make the heart grow fonder when a new Recommended post rolls out!

via Bon Appétit

First, a recipe!  I highly recommend these chocolate chip cookies made with whiskey and rye.  A friend of mine made them, and they blew me away!  These are in my top 3 favorite cookies I've ever tasted, no lie.  I haven't made them myself yet, but I hope that when I do, they turn out just as good!

An amazing story of a man harnessing the seas in an entirely new way to provide for the future.

A funny bit for your weekend: Kittens vs Thugs

I love this idea for chore dates!  Maybe it's just my get-things-done nature, but I really do think this would be fun.

Great encouragements on being a Girl Boss collected by Joanna from Cup of Jo -- This quote is my favorites:

“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” — Marissa Mayer

I love this series from Cup of Jo about parenting around the world.  You may have seen it, it's pretty popular, but it's always worth another look, in my opinion.

Tips on how to make your clothes last longer (and save $$).

Shut the front door.  There's an otter preserve in California where you can swim with otters!  Here's a video.  Time to move to the West Coast!

Did you know that King Tut's sword was made with the metal from a meteorite??

The adorable frustrations that come with being a baby panda zoo keeper

Hope you have a great weekend!  See you again in August!

Little Ways to Make a Big Difference

 
With the summer heat bringing in a little bit of the doldrums, I wanted to drum up some ideas for small ways to stir some goodness into your life or the lives of those around you.

• Write good reviews for good places or tell someone about where to eat the best local ribs.  Read some inspiration here.
• Use the candles, lotions, and fancy cookies or coffee you've been saving for a special occasion.  Make today special!
• Instead of taking your phone to the bathroom (I'm not the only one, right?) keep a book you've been trying to finish on the bathroom counter.
• Look at the ingredients in your processed foods and cut out anything with trans fat.  There are lots of ways to eat healthy, but removing trans fat from your diet is a pretty easy place to start.  (Also, avoid drinking your calories.)
• Pay it forward at the coffee shop.  Maybe use the drive through if you're nervous but eager to make someone's day.
• Use the stationery you have laying around and write a letter to someone you've been wanting to get back in touch with.
• Actually floss.  Turns out is does amazing work at disrupting the bacteria making its home between your teeth.
• Refrain from angry or emotionally charged electronic conversations.  Some conversations are best held in person (or not at all, depending on the situation).
• Take an hour or two to help a friend move.  Many hands make light work, and they will appreciate you to the moon and back!
• Eat less tuna, salmon, and beef (and maybe meat in general) to help reduce, even just a little bit, the environmental impact your food has on our planet.
• When you appreciate someone, tell them.  Give more compliments.  Even to strangers.
• Bring flowers with you when visiting a friend, just for the heck of it.
• Send pictures of yourself to your mom and grandparents.  They love seeing your smile.
• If you think of a task you've been putting off, if you can get it done in 5 minutes, do it right then when you remember.
• Wear your prettiest underwear, just for you.
• Practice wanting less and consuming less and sending less to our landfills.  Even the biggest snowfalls start with one snowflake.
• Comment on the blog posts you read.  Let the author know you're there and you enjoy their hard work.  :)
• Spend time loving and enjoying yourself.  Speak kindly to yourself.  Give yourself the freedom to find bliss in your happiest of places and activities.

What would you add?  What things make you happy that you think we should try?  What small things have you seen make a difference for you or others?

The importance of self care

"Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves, even when we risk disappointing others."
~ Bené Brown

This spring, I went through an incredibly stressful time, and I wanted to share a little about what I've learned in case it has the chance to speak to you, too.

This was a deep, emotional stress that shook many foundations  I've built my life upon, and it tore through my soul and actually my body, as well.  During the worst week of this tempest, my stomach felt sick, and my face broke out with the worst zits I've had since high school.  Thankfully, I was already in the process of seeking help through counseling, but this was a time when the cruciality of self-care was brought to the very front of my mind.  It wasn't the breakout on my face that caught my attention, but it was my counselor and friends telling me to do nice things for myself when I began to realize that I could do more to care for my soul, and that I should do more.  While I am blessed to have many people around me to love me, none of them has the same responsibility I have to myself.

It's very easy, I think especially for those of us who were taught that selfishness is wrong, to believe that it's not good or right to place so much emphasis on ourselves.  Take a moment to think, though, about what happens when you aren't cared for and when your needs become neglected.  What about when that happens over and over?  Is that transformation for the better?  While there is so much good that has come to this world through selflessness, your needs matter, too.

Now think of what the transformation would look like if you were given the time, care, and love you do need.  If you had boundaries around the part of life to you that matter the most.  If instead of harboring frustration and stress when you agree to handle something for a friend, you told them no.  Saying yes to one thing (peace of mind, for example) means saying no to something else (that extra project at work), and especially when you're first getting started in standing up for yourself, it will not feel fun.  But as Bene Brown has said, "Choose discomfort over resentment."  You are worth fighting for, your needs are worth defending, and and trust me, it's worth it.

Recognizing, respecting, and caring for your needs is all self care is.  These needs can be as basic as sleep, good food, and safety or more complex like emotional and mental health.  Routine self care, for me, includes firmly defending my bedtime, saying no to things I'm invited to but don't want to attend, keeping at least one evening a week to myself and whatever I want to do, and making sure I have sexy times with my husband and cuddle times with my dog on the regular.  I'd also like to add consistent exercise to the list at some point; I've been lax about taking care of that part of me.

When I need to go hard core with my self care (like during this spring), this involves as much time outdoors as I can manage.  Visiting parks and walking my dog help me clear my mind and bring goodness back into my life when I've gone off the deep end.

I want to tell some of my story so that it might reflect some light onto yours.  I believe everyone needs self care, and it's important to recognize what that looks for you.  You are different from me, and what settles your heart will be unique to your heart.  Parts of my husband's version of self care are solitude, video games, and reading.  What might help bring you calm?

I want to give a few more suggestions that might help job some ideas for how to care for yourself. 

The Quiet Place Project is an amazingly therapeutic online space where you can express anything on your mind and watch it fall into the starry sky.  I've visited this website twice, and I'm always amazed at how freeing it is to speak into this anonymous void.

Calm.com is a meditation app that can take you to a peaceful place in seconds.

Here are some lovely ideas for how to use self care to combat anxiety from Me & Orla.  (I love this list.)

I highly recommend reading this post about self care in the context of motherhood.  The author does a  great job of describing different situations and examples of where self care is absent and what the outcomes are.

Whether you're in a stressful place right now or if you currently have everything together, I encourage you and challenge you to some up with at least 3 things you can do to start tending to your soul regularly.  Build these habits now, because I promise you'll need them later.

Living Luxuriously

I couple weeks ago, I came home in the middle of a dreary, wet, and dark June afternoon.  After having such lovely weather for so long, I wasn't feeling the gloomy atmosphere.  I was also feeling chilled and even though it was nearly summer, it sounded like a good idea to warm myself up with some rich hot chocolate I had leftover from last winter.

For some reason, I had the idea to serve myself with the Chinese tea set my BFF Millie got me for Christmas last year.  Why not, right?  Sure it may have been meant for fancy tea, but why not make the hot chocolate fancy?

Long story short, my Kroger private selection hot chocolate tasted magnificent coming from the prettiest tea cups I own.  I also decided to leave my tea set out of its box from now own.  It's so beautiful, why not display it so I can actually see and enjoy it?

I hope this encourages you to think of some ways you can add unconventional luxury to your life, too!  Are there things you do now to bring more joy and fanciness to your day?  I'd love to hear!

What's Your Relationship With Your Blog?

Let's both grab a cup of tea, or if we're feeling fancy, a cappuccino and talk about our blogs.  I'm curious about why you post, how often you post, what do you like about your blog, what do you not like?  Do you feel a sense of obligation toward your blog?  Or enjoyment?  Or calm?

My own blog relationship has been all over the map since I started ten years ago.  At first, it was an online journal of sorts where I called out for attention in the most passive aggressive way.  Later, I was able to use it as a platform to share stories about teaching and living in Korea.  I loved the conversations those stories would stir, and the posts were very fun to write.  Upon returning to America, I decided to try a more generic approach to appeal to a greater audience.  I've always had a dream of being famous, and I thought maybe I could strike gold like so many other bloggers have.  While I always made sure to post about things that I genuinely found interesting, after a while, the content I was producing didn't seem that important.  Since then, I've had a shift in my goals and perspectives, which, as I look at it, seems rather complex.

Sarah Von Bargen of Yes and Yes said it best. 
"I wanted to read something that acknowledged that fact that all of us are multifaceted. [...]  So every day I try (with varying degrees of success) to create a space like that."

See, in the last year or two, I've found myself wanting to writ about highly charged topics like racism, acts of terrorism, and how I believe Christians (of which I am one) should react to these things.  These are heavy things to talk about, and I don't want the scope of my blog to limit me from speaking about them.  I also want to feel free to rave about all my beautiful indoor plants, delicious recipes I've come across, and other things I'm learning about.  I don't want to feel constrained to either side of the spectrum.  In fact, I've decided that it's okay to cover all of the spectrum!  I'm multifaceted, you're multifaceted, and this blog is going to remain multifaceted, too.

So, this is me claiming further ownership over my blog.  We've been through ups and downs, contention and joy, and all of that is okay.  It will morph as I morph, and I'm starting to think that's actually pretty cool.

What about you?  What motivates you to write?  Is there anything you would change or anything you wouldn't change at all?  I'd love to hear!

Last Week in Atlanta : Free ASO Concert

 Last week, I had the absolute pleasure of getting to attend my very first performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!  The best part was, as fun as dressing up and being all fancy is, I was barefoot, taking pictures, and snacking on cheese!  Thanks to a big Atlanta collaboration, the ASO gave their (free) performance at Piedmont Park, and everyone was invited!

My friend Cary is my go-to person when it comes to knowing what's going on in Atlanta.  She has already invited me to way too many events than I could ever accept, but I'm really glad I was able to make it to this one.  I used to visit the Chattanooga Symphony often in college because the events were required for my music minor.  I always love listening to beautiful music played well, and the ASO's Performance in the Park was no exception.  I'd had a very busy week last week, and I thought that I might have to head home early from the concert just so I could get some extra rest, but turns out listening to lovely live music was just what I needed!  I stayed all the way through the encore and had a great time.

Look at how many people were there!  I'm pretty sure this picture covered maybe half of the entire audience.  It was so delightful to see how many people had come out to enjoy the performance!  There were kids dancing to the music, people who stopped by after their workout in the park, and even some folks with their dogs on the outskirts of the crowd (because they technically weren't allowed).  I wonder how many people there were listening to a symphony for the first time ever! 

Last year, the ASO gave 4 free performances in the summer, but required guests to RSVP, which meant a smaller number of folks could attend.  This year, they decided to hold one free concert but have the guest list be unlimited.  I'm hoping they'll keep up the unlimited plan for next year, and I think you should keep an eye out for them, too!

Summer 2016 Bucket List

 
Happy summer, friends!  I have no vacations plans for the season (which means I sounded really lame when my dentist tried to make light conversation last week), but I do have small, personal plans.  Caleb and I have decided that we finally need to use that ice cream machine we got as a wedding gift almost three years ago.  I also think I should prioritize going swimming at least once, especially since last year I didn't swim at all!  Some of the more nerdy things on my list are tasks I'm knocking out on my 101 Challenge.  (I'm 76% finished!)  All of the list are things I really do hope to accomplish, though, and I'm looking forward to marking these things as complete!

I love making short spurt bucket lists.  Writing these things down is a way to keep myself accountable for completing them, and it's helpful to have the physical list in view around the house so I can be reminded of the importance I want to place on these things.  Also, I'm competitive by nature, and this is a fun way to watch myself check things off that I've wanted to do.  It may sound small, but it's a good rush for me, and it can help build momentum that I can use in other parts of my life, too.

Can you think of anything I should add to the list?  What plans do you have for the summer?  If you need some more inspiration, here's my list from 2 years ago.

When Evil Demands Response

I know many voices have been raised against the hate-fueled act of terrorism carried out this past weekend and week, and I believe it is important for me to add my own, even though I doubt I'm saying anything you haven't heard already.

It has taken me a long time, but I am finally learning that besides taking part or joy in the evil, one of the worst things we can do in these instances is to say nothing.  When we let these things happen without comment and without condemnation, is it not the same as telling the world it doesn't bother us?  Inaction is, in fact, an action.

Here in Atlanta (and also at my church), Martin Luther King Jr. comes into conversation often, and he's naturally one of the first speakers and activists I think of when I'm looking for advice on how to react in situations like these.

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"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. "

“The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.”

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

~ Martin Luther King Jr.

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There is much I'd like to say in regards to the politics and public reactions I've come across this week, but today, this post is just focusing on what I believe to be the most important facet of this situation.  Evil is evil, we cannot stand for it, and we cannot let it roll over us without affecting us.  Let it move us to speak and move us to action.  Let it move us to love.

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth124474.html

He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read more at: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/martinluth124474.html

Recommended for a blitz weekend!

I'm heading up to Chattanooga this weekend for a quick trip to visit my sister and attend my first Running of the Chihuahuas.  I'm not really sure what to expect, but I'm excited!

I haven't gotten to spend much time on writing this week, but I wanted to send you off with a song I've recently added to my Misty Morning playlist.   The Atlanta weather brought us a cold snap this week, so I've been feeling very cuddly, and this song fits with my hot tea and blankets while still letting the chilly sunshine make sense, too.  I hope you enjoy!

I've mentioned a couple times that my parents moved to Norway last summer to be international missionaries.  Here's an update they wrote recently about surviving their first summer.

The future is here.  This 15-year-old kid just joined MIT after using their free curriculum for both middle and high school.

These brothers convinced their sister of the zombie apocalypse.  This made me laugh so much!

I just heard about The Bee Cause Project, which brings healthy bee hives to schools in Charleston and Savannah for some super hands-on education.  Awesome!

A deeply moving video encouraging what are called "leftover women" in China.  This is a concept I saw played out in Korea, too, and I think some of the pressure also lies in the West.  Check it out.  What do you think?

This song made me laugh.

Aha!  What a smart way to remove spiders from your home!  And without having to even get close!

Last but not least, a pop-up in London where beer is served by dogs?!

Recommended with Sukiyaki

I'll stop you right there.  No, this is not what authentic sukiyaki looks like.  Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish prepared similarly to a hot pot, and I'm 99% sure it isn't usually paired with rice.  It does, however, go well with rice, so that's how I built my dinner when making sukiyaki for the first time.  It was so delicious with rice, in fact, I'll probably always include rice in the meal!  So yeah, I know, this isn't the real deal, but the recipe I got for the sukiyaki meat and vegetables is legitimate, and I highly recommend it!

I will say, the first time I made sukiyaki, I made it by the book and followed all the ratios exactly (but I had run out of mirin, so I had to use my expensive sake instead 😭).  It came out quite salty and quite sweet, so my second time making the recipe, I toned down the soy sauce and sugar, and I enjoyed it better.  I'm still looking for the best blend to suit my tastes, but don't let that dissuade you.  The flavors are strong, but they are also good.

Sukiyaki is traditionally prepared over a portable stove at the table with everyone around the table dipping and adding to it and eating from the pot all together.  Thankfully, Chef Marc describes how you can still cook sukiyaki without a portable stove.  I made mine on the stovetop, and it turned out just fine.  I like using a round steak cut for the meat and for the vegetables, I use two different kinds of mushrooms (shimeji and enoki), white onions cut lengthwise, the whites of leeks cut crosswise, the whites of green onions cut into 2-inch sections, and canned bamboo shoots.

I have no problem with chopping veggies for 15 minutes or so, but slicing the pound of beef I use has given me serious trouble.  I've permanently delegated that task to Caleb, but before I did, I used my carving knife on the frozen beef and sliced off very thin slivers for forty minutes, which is why I won't be doing it again.  It might be worth it to ask if your butcher can slice the meat for you at the market.

Adding lots of vegetables help to bulk up the meal, and again I know it's not authentic, but everything goes so nicely with white sticky rice.  It mellows out the flavors so well.  Both times I've made this, it's produced a lot of food, and it ends up being pretty cheap per serving.  Yay for budget-friendly, yet exciting dinners!  Let me know if you try it!  (Here's the recipe to the link again.)

Recommended with sukiyaki...

Did you know that hearing and tasting what you see is a thing for some people???

How peacock feathers look under a microscope

I just discovered Atlas Obscura's website, and I think everyone should know about it!  Check out the hidden secrets of your area or the city you're visiting on your next vacation.  Turns out there's a hidden alternate universe here in Atlanta right underneath my favorite ice cream shop!

I ran with a small dream and submitted an application to Anthropologie earlier this month (and got a job offer!), which got me more curious about the company's inner workings.  Check out this detailing of the Anthro store aesthetic and these 18 facts.

I've never had it before, but I think this "New Orleans" coffee drink is worth getting super coffee snobby for.   I read about it on Cup of Jo, and it sounds like such a wonderful cup!  Have you tried it?  Is it worth it?

By the way, who knew there were so many different ways to prepare coffee?  Before seeing this list of brewing guides, I only knew about regular coffee pots (which aren't even mentioned in the list), the Chemex, French press, and pour over cups.  From what I can see, I think I would really like coffee made from a Hario Nel.

I met a very cool cat this month (I literally mean a cat), which makes me really wish my husband weren't allergic.  To satiate my new and unexpected cat love, I've found this new Adventure Cats website!

Have a great weekend!

In Response to the Boycott on Target's Inclusive Restrooms

I just learned that the American Family Association, a conservative, Christian, pro-family nonprofit organization, is calling for a boycott against Target due to the company's recent statement about encouraging its customers to use the bathroom for the gender with which they identify.

This makes me think of a few things right off the bat...

• It is not necessarily Target's responsibility to protect women and children, it's their responsibility to create an excellent and safe customer experience for all its customers.  So far, I'm fairly certain transgendered females have, in fact, used the women's restroom at Target, and I haven't heard of any issues of an associated danger.
• The boycott sites fear of predators taking advantage of Target's bathroom policy as the motivating factor for being angry with Target.  Bad people are going to do bad things whether there's a law against it or not, and women's bathrooms aren't inherently safe because they have a picture of a woman on the door.
• Security in the women's bathroom was never guaranteed before Target stated it would be inclusive of transgendered folk.  If you're afraid of being preyed upon, learn self-defense, be aware of your surroundings, and travel with others.  There are so many better ways to combat that fear than boycotting the store.

What I keep coming back to, though, is this quote that's been going around lately, "When you're accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression."  Meaning, in this case, when LGBTQ are welcomed to use the restroom that makes them feel most comfortable (like heterosexual people have had the privilege of doing for years), some heterosexuals are going to get angry.

I'd like to call out the AFA and the Christians who've signed the petition.  If what you're really upset about is the higher risk of women and children being preyed upon in the Target women's bathroom, just don't have your women and children go to the Target women's bathroom.  I know women and children can be unpredictable, but there is some planning and preparation you could do ahead of time to help avoid the bathroom situation.  If needed, you could even ask to be accompanied by a Target associate if you think it would make you feel safer.  Something tells me this fear is not what's motivating your call to action, though.  I believe you are more angry over transgendered folk being treated with dignity and respect.  If that is the case, you are not following the example set before you in the life and commandments of Christ.  

Jesus showed radical counterculture mercy to outspoken sinners and unexpected contempt for those who thought themselves above wrongdoing.  His reactions to the Samaritan woman at the well, Zacchaeus the cheating tax collector, Mary with the alabaster box of oil, and then the rigtheous men of the town who condemned her Mary should give us all cause to ponder our thoughts and actions before we accuse or praise anyone.

From what I've read and seen, many in the LGBTQ community have had a bad relationship with the Church.  Acting out of anger that the LGBTQ community is finding more freedom and inclusion is not the way to help rebuild those bridges.  Christ wooed us with His grace when we didn't deserve it.  He loved us before we loved Him.  We are His messengers in this world, and hatred and fear are not a part of His message.  Click here if you need a refresher on what His message does include.

Honestly, I think Target is closer to the WWJD mark on this one.  As they said in their statement, "Everyone deserves to feel like they belong. And you’ll always be accepted, respected and welcomed at Target."

7 Ways to Make Exercising Not Suck

image by Curtis Mac Newton via Unsplash

Like I mentioned in my recent confessions post, I am not a usual exerciser.  I can't get away from this niggling feeling, though, that exercise is important, not because it can change how I look, because it keeps my body healthy.  I know I don't have to tell you how important or useful good health is, we all know the spiel.  We probably all know how annoying it can be to find a schedule and consistency, too, let alone a place to exercise where we don't feel self conscious or intimidated.

Well, the very good news is that exercise and health don't have to come from a gym.  I've had a membership at a gym for a total of one month of my life when I was living with my BFF the month before her wedding.  We would go together to this gym that was attended mostly by seniors, so there wasn't much pressure to impress anyone.  Going to a gym in the center of Atlanta, though, where gyms are filled with people who actually know how to use all those machines... no thanks I'll stay home and use a yoga video.

Thankfully, yoga videos are a legitimate avenue for good exercise.  If your goal is to get as fit as possible in as little time as possible, you're probably better off meeting with a personal trainer, but if you just want to build some strength and give your heart rate a high (three times a week is advised by the professionals!), there are a lot more options than going to the gym.

Here are 7 kinds of exercise that are actually enjoyable:

The best Instagram tips I've found

Last month, I stumbled across Me + Orla on Instagram.  As simple as many of the photos are, I found the feed enchanting.  Neutral colors, simple settings, slow living, it all seems like my kind of perfection captured on film (well, technically on a screen, but still).  Just take a look!

Not only are the pictures beautiful, but I learned that the Instagramer made it a goal of hers to become excellent at it, which I highly respect.  She's since accomplished that goal, and she's sharing all of her tips she learned from experience on her blog.  I spent hours reading through everything that first night I found her, and I am now a die hard fan of Sara Tasker, the artist and writer behind the lovely photographs.

I have to say, Sara's advice for getting better at Instagram doesn't involve any of the flimsy "The one little thing that will brings you thousands of followers!" tips you see bouncing around the internet.  Sara is legit, and all I've seen her share is completely practical and easy to understand.  For example, her main suggestion for building a popular Instagram is to post truly excellent photography.  (Duh, why didn't I think of that?)  Followers and likes will come if you do good work.  Of course, there's more to building a tribe, but that's her main focus, and it just strikes me as genuine.  It's not sneaky, it's not necessarily difficult, but it's also not necessarily easy.  It's something to have to work for, but if you do put in the work, you will reap the reward.

Anway, I could fawn over this woman for ages, but I would rather you read up about what she says.  Even if you're not into Instagram, photography, or social media, Sara takes beautiful pictures, and you deserve some eye candy for your day.

First, check out Sara's collection of serious Instagram tips.
Then, if you're curious about her backstory, read about how she got to where she is now.
Finally, if I've converted you into a total fan girl like me, check out this post where Sara lists out a few other avenues where she's been able to write and speak.  Her romantic interview about living in the English countryside made me want to hightail it outside of the city.

It's a somewhat secret wish of mine to be famous (I care only a little as to how, but I could work with being Insta-famous), but I also care about the art I produce, even if it's not displayed in a gallery.  For about a month and a half or so, I've started taking my own Instagram more seriously, and it's been interesting to see how my approach has changed since reading about Sara's story and process.  After going through all her blog posts, I signed up for the free Insta-Retreat workshop to get even more.  The Insta-Retreat is emailed out as a short e-book, and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to take their Instagram to the next level.  Prepare to be challenged and brought to the edge of your preconceptions and your comfort zone.  You won't regret it.

Okay, last thing, you've got to check out Sara's hilarious alternate Instagram account.  I promise it's worth a look.

P.s. All pictures in this post are screenshots of the Me & Orla Instagram page.