How do you find inspiration?
Beauty, in many forms, fuels my joy and creativity. I find inspiration in books. Getting coffee with friends. In magazines. Candles. Window shopping… or real shopping in Dallas. You get the idea.
Today, I wanted to share some of my recent reads, practices and delights that have been fueling my creativity and creating more beauty in my life. Here’s a list of May’s Books:
> “Girl, wash your face” by Rachel Hollis
> “Body Love” by Kelly LeVeque
> “Magnolia Table” by Joanna Gaines
Ok, let’s be honest: I’ve already listened to the Audio version of “Girl, wash your face”. Twice. But I’m nerdy and love to take notes… plus, I just love the content. So much that I’ve shared my love for this book on Facebook, Instagram and now I’m BLOGGING about it. Why? Because I relate to SO much of it. My story is so similar – in that I believed so many of the same identical lies that I held myself back from embracing the life I was made for. My purpose sat on a shelf because I was a wife and a mom, and the lie I believed was that being a wife and mom was all and enough for me. Being a wife and a mom are my FAVORITE titles in the world. But it’s not all I was created for. This book would have been so helpful over a decade ago, which is why I would love to see it bless other young married women, single women, and young moms, who are stuck believing lies. Read this, get unstuck. Go do something great.
“Body Love.” Am I on a diet? NO. I don’t believe in dieting, but I do believe in taking care of myself and making better choices. As I’ve told my kids for years, when we know better, we do better. I’ve heard Kelly LeVeque on podcasts and am excited to dig in and learn more about the fab four. Plus, I’m all about trying to find balance in this season of my life. Anyone who promotes that, is on my team.
“Magnolia Table.” While reading Body Love? Yes. Because anything Jo Jo does is beautiful, inspirational, and I take inspiration from all sorts of beautiful things. Plus, you probably don’t know this about me, but according to my family: I’m a pretty good cook. I LOVE looking at new recipes and seeing how I can modify it… and now… make it gluten free. Pretty sure Joanna’s recipes aren’t gluten free, but that makes this book no less intriguing. And for the record, the salt and pepper shakers are from Magnolia. Because, Jo Jo.
And now… on to my Sketch book. This beautiful 8.5 x 11 journal of 100 GSM, open bound pages was my 2018 gift to myself. To start this new year, I felt the Lord tell me it was time to dream again. On blank, white, pristine pages, I was to dream up a life I desired. Without constraints lines or borders, to write. To write all the things I loved. To forget rules, budgets, time, responsibilities and commitments: just allow myself the space and freedom to write and dream. It has been life-giving to find new ways to create, write and discover. I’m discovering and re-discovering many things long forgotten.
Other things I love in this season? Anthropologie Magazines. Of course, all things Anthropologie, but I frequently revisit the magazines because the images are beautiful. I love the textures. I love that every magazine they send is totally different, they never look the same. New fresh and unique. Like each season. How I want to be.
And writing. I have loved words for longer than it was cool. I write for me… but love sprinkling inspiration into my Instagram or Facebook posts. Words can be so powerful, so nurturing and bring hope to those who need it.
I’ve filled my blank pages with scattered words, poetry, letters… all sorts of things. Watching my journal take shape is half the fun.
Anthropologie mugs, tea and woven farmhouse kitchen towels. The natural distressing doesn’t bother me either. It just shows me life has happened here.
This treasure is from Cindy. It sits near my computer, where I spend most of my day, serving as a reminder of my theme for 2018: choose joy. To choose joy in all things, big small, hard, easy… to choose to see joy. Cindy knew this was my aim. She saw this tiny beautiful vase and sent an it along with a succulent. A symbolic reminder for me of the soil of my heart. Everything grows from the condition of the heart. It’s a daily reminder to make sure that soil is encased in joy. I choose joy.
Do you have a beauty project of your own? Something that you are sketching to life? I’d love to hear about it. Oh, and tend to those forgotten pockets of your heart, too. Good stuff is waiting there. 🙂
Till next time, with gratitude.
K
