Weekly Flowers

Flowers have become a weekly purchase for us at Trader Joe's. Living five blocks from a TJ's has definitely increased our quality of life. Okay- maybe that's a bit dramatic, but it's pretty great. While their selection isn't huge, there is something for everyone. Our hyacinth purchase from last week is still going (& smelling) strong, and Joe bought me a new bunch just to be sweet. When Joe & I first got married buying flowers was a luxury. It was reserved for special occasions and would have never been done on a weekly basis. A lot of things have changed for us, and affording flowers is not such a huge thing; however, it is just a sweet to have them sitting on my table.
Do you buy flowers? You'd be surprised how much they can make you smile. 

What I See & What I Wore

Sunday was filled with errands and baking. We made trips to Costco & Trader Joe's, and Joe played his xbox while I baked... typical. Here are some pictures of what I was seeing yesterday... and what I wore. 

What I'm wearing:

Shirt, Minnies, & pave bracelet: Jcrew

Earrings: Anthropologie 

Loafers: Dolce Vita

Happy Monday, everyone. Only four days till Friday!

What Inspires You?

I've been thinking a lot about the feeling or emotion of inspiration lately. I have no idea why, but it's just been on my mind. What inspires me? 

My friends Liene & Agrita inspire me. 

They are both serving the Lord: one in the jungle of Blovia, one in a school for troubled youth. 

This verse inspires me. 

This C.S. Lewis quote inspires me.

This song inspires me:



He inspires me:

When the day to day becomes uninspiring, it's good to remind yourself why you are who are and why you do what you do.

What I See

Don't Miss It!

Yesterday evening I attended a women's event at a church I've been visiting. The minister spoke out of Esther and these verses stuck with me:

"When Ester's words were reported to Mordecai, he sent back this answer: 'Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For If you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS .' "

What Mordecai is saying is if Esther doesn't go before the king (her husband) God will use someone else. As a twenty something American woman it is not necessarily easy to imagine myself as royalty, but that is exactly what I am (and you are) as a daughter of the King. God has brought me to DC (and wherever you are) for such a time as this and I don't want to miss it! God has a sovereign plan and it will happen with or without me. I have to admit yesterday was rough. ROUGH. My patience for Joe's absence flew out the window. It's all too easy to think I have no purpose here as I seemingly aimlessly search for job, and feel incredibly unqualified. When the evil one whispers these lies to me  I will read and claim this verse over myself. 

Alexandria: One Week Later

Well as of today we've (does Joe count since he's been out of town?) been residents of Alexandria for one week. The two rooms that are picture ready are the kitchen and living/dining room. So- here's the kitchen. Yes it's itty bitty, but that kitchen cart makes a world of difference. I'm trying to find excitement in the challenge, and thankfully we have a finished basement for overflow.

For fun here are 7 things I'm loving about Alexandria:

1. The weather! The warmest it's been is 70 degrees.

2. Our front stoop. 

3. Having divided spaces and stairs. 

4. Being able to open the back door and let the dog out. LIFE CHANGING!

5. Trader Joe's. Nuff said.

6. Walking- anywhere and everywhere.

7. All of the possibilities. Museums, restaurants, etc. 

Life as We Know It

...according to instagram posts.

Back to School Resolutions

As most teachers know, and anyone who has a relationship with a teacher, the beginning of a new school year is more like New Years than January 1st. While at dinner with some fellow teachers we began discussing "back to school resolutions." Some of them were career oriented, but a lot were personal.

{1. We can't do this all the time, but I want to make a conscious effort to buy more organic.  > 2. I've found myself very passionate about climate change, but I'm not doing anything about it. I'm going to change that. > 3. Coming from a long history of Dementia & Alzheimer's this should be a no brainer. } 

Our Weekend...

... in instagram posts.