I don't even know how to catch you up on all that has happened in the last few weeks months. Honestly, I feel like I've barely been surviving. Instead of dwelling on how terrible at life I've been, we're just going to start over today. Like right now, this very moment, I'm just claiming a reset on life. Who's with me? If you've been reading here from the beginning then you'll know I used to write a series of letters to help recap smaller moments that don't always necessitate their own post. I've been doing some updates on the back end of my blog, which led me to read a ton of old content. Those little letters were some of my favorite posts ever, so I'm thinking they need a resurrection. Let's start right away! Dear Old Content, I complained a lot while I reviewed your 1600+ blog posts. ...
DIY | Last Minute Taylor Swift Halloween Costume
I know I told you it was a one-post kind of week for me, but I hated not to share this adorable DIY costume before the weekend. It is altogether possible that we snapped photos of the finished costume on the way to school this morning and highly likely that we used makeup wipes to remove the lipstick in the carpool line. We are THAT family. When it comes to Halloween costumes, Ella always leans towards simple and comfortable. When she was younger, we often opted for a character driven birthday party that later birthed a Halloween costume. Now that she's older (ten, what?!), she prefers something a little less over-the-top. While Sophie tends to reflect on what she wants to be and I ultimately have to shove encourage her forward, Ella is pretty decisive and knows exactly what she wants! ...
Collaboreads | Before the Fall
It's moving week for me, which means this is my only post of the week. Let's be honest, the only reason it's done is that I wrote it two weeks ago. You can head over to Jennifer's blog if you're looking for our Wardrobe Wednesday link up, but don't forget that starting next week we'll be hosting the first Wednesday of every month. I'll be back next week with my regular posting schedule (I think!) and catch you up on life over the last several weeks. See you soon! Today, Amber and Rachel are hosting another round of Collaboreads and I am so excited! Given the season, this month’s prompt was to read a book with the word fall in the title. I didn't have to look too hard, since I had already downloaded the perfect candidate several weeks ago. After I turned this one down for my Book of the ...
Stones & Sparrows | Gather Your Stones
Back in the spring, a group of my favorite internet ladies decided to join forces for a newsletter. The idea was to share more words than would fit in an Instagram caption and to foster community among other journalers who were struggling to find their voice. We've taken turns over the last six months, collectively sharing a weekly entry with our readers. It's been hard and wonderful and thought provoking and I have stretched my faith and grown so much during our time together. You know how when you first meet a new friend and you try your best to squeeze in time with her as often as you can? How you rearrange your schedule and avoid obligations and cancel your least favorite activities, just to have more time with her? That's kind of what Stones & Sparrows felt like from the ...
Old Baker Farm | 2016
I've honestly been saying no to everything fun for the last several weeks because we're knee deep in boxes and have had a house full of contractors at all times. It's been a good month, but it's been full and overwhelming and packed to the brim with to-dos and wishlists and shopping trips. When my sister asked me to tag along to the pumpkin patch on Saturday, I knew I needed to say no, but I'm so glad I didn't. We snuck away for a few hours and the packing tape was exactly where I left it when we returned. Thank goodness for sweet sisters and brother cousins and beautiful fall weather when we need it! We are still dying in ninety degree afternoons and praying for actual fall in Alabama, but Saturday morning was perfect. Sure, it was blazing hot by afternoon, but when you're at the farm ...
Coffee with Kristin 004
Grab your latte (or tea or hot chocolate) and press on in, it's time for our monthly coffee date! If we were on a coffee date, I would tell you that Jesus is really kicking my butt. No matter where I encounter him -- in worship on Sunday morning, in my new small group over coffee, or at an amazing women's conference --He is telling me the same thing. Slow down. Unload. Remove some chairs. I had a bit of a breakdown a few weeks ago and I'm convinced that Josh thought I was crazy. I had reached my tipping point and everything was overflowing. My calendar was too full, my to-do list was to long, my mind was full of worries, and I was feeling overwhelmed. He helped me see some areas where I needed margin and helped me identify a few others I could eliminate altogether. I'm working to say no ...
Currently in October | Monthly Infographic
I can't even believe that it's already October. No, really... how did that happen? My mom used to tell me that days would blaze by once I was an adult, but I don't think I ever fully appreciated that until now. I feel like before I can really get settled into a month, another one is already knocking me over. September was kind of a crazy month. We had so many things packed in -- Josh was traveling some, I attended a two-day conference at my church, and I got sick twice. Yep, I conquered both a stomach virus and a reaction to flu shot, but lived to tell about them both. Before I recap September, let's chat about what the first few days of October held. Ready? cheers-ing | I can't decide if I should share victories for this prompt or if you're asking what's in my glass. Perhaps both of ...
What I Read in September
Warning: Affiliate links appear in the following post. Although shopping the embedded links won’t cost you any additional dollars, it might mean that I download a few extra audio books this month. Your support of my reading habit is always appreciated! September was a month filled with audiobooks. I somehow managed to accrue quite the stash of Audible credits over the summer, so I've enjoyed redeeming those for new reads over the past several weeks. Of the four books I managed to finish, only one of them was a physical book! The other three, I devoured during morning commutes and afternoon jogs. I'm guessing that as the temperatures continue to fall over the next several months, I'll be checking more and more audiobooks off of my list. I used to run to music only, but listening to ...