2015 Valentine's Day Round Up

1// Last year, I did this super cutsie DIY I Love You art that I still find to be such a fun project.
2// These hanging hearts would make a great Vday mantle piece.
3// This is a great list of cocktails suitable for the day of love.
4// The Inspired Room gave some great tips on making the week more romantic.
5// I mentioned this Valentine's Day round up a few weeks ago.

6// I really liked the subtlety of this Vday window garland. 

7// I loved this post from Emily Henderson's blog a few years back about the holiday.
8// This DIY heart art is the perfect holiday accent.
9// I love the idea of framing love notes and making them into art.
10// I love these Valentines Day cards I found on Etsy.

Happy Valentine's Day!

XX

Beginning Again in 2015

On the first day of the year, I talked about casting a vision over 2015. For me, this year is about more than just setting goals or creating a giant to do list (although we have one of those). Over the last week or so, I have prayed over this year and looked back over the last one. Here are three things that I want to focus on this year: 

1. Enjoying & Resting in all 2015 brought.

Enjoying time with friends. Enjoying my home. Enjoying my job. Enjoying life.

2. Being intentional with my time and my year.

For me this means slowing down enough to see God act and move where He is present. It means prayerfully and carefully choosing the things I invest my time in. It may mean saying No to great things in order to say Yes to other things. 

3. Making relationships more of a priority than the home they take place in. 

This one is the hardest of the three for me. I will stress myself out to the max making sure the house looks perfect and feels comfy for guests. And while the intention is good, sometimes I need to just let it go, dust the socks off the couch, and sit with a friend and a cup of coffee more than I need to "pick up." True confessions of a house loving perfectionist!

The hardest part of casting a vision (and then posting it for everyone to see!) is that I know I will fail. There are moments when I will find my self knee deep in a list of to dos, completely exhausted and not enjoying my day. There will be times when I say yes to more than I can handle. There will be days when I find myself preparing my house rather than my heart before guests arrive. This is hard for the perfectionist/want to do it "right" side of me.

I had a gentle reminder this morning that I want to share with you for those days when you feel like everything is out of whack: We don't have to wait for the calendar to turn to begin anew (SRT). Each day is a new opportunity & a new space to begin again. So if you find yourself half a month into 2015 and already dipping out on your gym time, eating a box of chocolates and thinking I'll just try again next year, please remember its not too late. Tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start. 

Have you had a chance to think about your vision for 2015? What does it look like?

Why you Should Say Goodbye to New Year's Resolutions in 2015

This year I want to put a little spin on the traditional New Year's Resolutions. My close friend and author of Graciously Authentic blog, challenged me this week to look at 2015 differently. It is through this lens that I want to look at both the year and examine my New Year's Resolutions. Jess Connolly, cofounder of @influencenet, shares her thoughts the subject:

No matter our circumstances, our past year, our present pains - what if we took the next few days to get dreamy and cast vision over our upcoming year? What if we asked Him: where do you want me to be at the end of 2015? Where do you want to take me? What if we shared some of those thoughts and yearning here with one another? (you can follow her on instagram: jessaconnolly #thosewhodream2015)

Rather than resolving to do one more thing, what if we intentionally prayed over and committed ourselves to a vision for the year. One that we could look back on throughout the year to help realign our lives and ourselves with Christ when life gets a little hectic or throws us a curve ball? Will you come along with me in looking at this year in a new light? 

I don't know what your New Year's Resolution list looks like. Maybe it is cluttered with hosting Pampered Chef parties and attending PTO meetings. Maybe you want to get in shape, go to church more, get organized, spend more time with your family, or eat healthy. Maybe it is filled with a lot of "should do's" and "have tos." Whatever it may be, my prayer is for each of us to live lives that are bigger than that list. This year my prayer is that we wouldn't resolve to do anything, but that each of us would be intentional with our time and our year. 

In 2014, Ty changed jobs, we sold our fixer upper and bought a new home. We traveled to Seattle, Scotland, Cambodia, China and a few other trips in between. I started Organize Nashville only to put that dream on pause to pursue an opportunity to grow as a nurse in the PICU. We sought counsel, spent time with great friends, and watched some of our best friends move away. This past year has been jam packed full of change. May 2015 be full of enjoying and resting in all the things 2014 brought. 

Happy New Year!