A Chattanooga Photo Diary

Josh and I love to take road trips so as Valentines Day was approaching we decided to choose a location for a little get-away. Chattanooga is a very special city to us because we had been there quite a few times while we were dating and when we were newly engaged. I don't believe we have been back since before we were married so we decided that a trip there was in order. 

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer

If you are a Gilmore Girls fan then congratulations...I've just got that annoying song stuck in your head, haven't I? :) As much as I hate that song, it comes to mind when I think of summer days.

My Favorite Bookshops

Ever since I can remember, books have been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I recall my mom telling me the story of my grandmother always saying that the only thing my parents would ever own were babies and books. Coming from a family of six and owning a bookcase in about every room in our home, I'd say she was about right.

Some of my most cherished memories was my mom taking my brothers, sister, and myself, to the library every Saturday. Being as my dad was a traveling preacher, our family would accompany him on the road most of the time and one of our favorite ways to break up the monotony of a long road trip was to make visits to various bookstores along the way. The best ones were always in New England.

Visiting The Hiding Place / The Corrie ten Boom House

Last May, Josh and I had the privilege of visiting the ten Boom house in Haarlem, about a 15 minute train ride outside of Amsterdam. One of my main reasons for wanting to visit The Netherlands was to see the home and city that Corrie ten Boom originated from. The Hiding Place is one of my favorite books of all time and if you haven't read it then by all means do so! It will leave you inspired, uplifted, and in awe of God's grace.

For those of you who may not be familiar with the story, Corrie, along with her father and sister, created a safe haven for Jews during the Nazi occupation in Holland during World War II.

When in Amsterdam...

Last summer I had the privilege to travel with my husband, Josh, to The Netherlands. We had just spent the week before in Paris and had crammed so many things we wanted to see/do into that week that by the time we arrived in Amsterdam we were ready just to kick back and relax. Amsterdam was the PERFECT city to do just that.

Versailles

When we were planning our trip to Europe we kind of went back and forth about planning a day trip to Versailles. It's about a half hour train ride outside of Paris and we knew it would take a full day. I am so glad that we decided to include it in our itinerary. Versailles was one of my absolute favorite things we did while we were in France and now it is one of my most beloved places I have ever been. I absolutely loved it. I'm excited to share with you guys a little photo album of our glorious day there. 

My Four Favorite Coffee Shops in Paris

When preparing for our trip to Paris I spent hours and hours researching the top places to see, eat, and you guessed it...drink coffee. I decided I wanted to do a little coffee shop tour of Paris so I made a list of places I wanted to try! These are my top four favorites that I visited... 

Boot Cafe 

"We'll Always Have Paris"

"We'll Always Have Paris" -Casablanca 

Shakespeare and Co. & Cafe

Shakespeare and Co. What a sweet little book shop. Ever since I heard about this quaint place and saw it sprinkled across my Pinterest feed I knew immediately I wanted to visit. You may have recognized the shop from movies such as Midnight in Paris or Before Sunset. The first time this shop was opened was in 1919 by Sylvia Beach and during the 1920s it was a gathering place for writers such as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, James Joyce, and Ford Madox Ford. It closed in 1940 during the German occupation of Paris and never re-opened. 

Palais Garnier Opera House

Our first evening in Paris we took a tour of the Palais Garnier, the world's most famous opera house. It was the setting for Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel, The Phantom of the Opera. We were pretty exhausted with getting off the plane at 8:10 that morning (1am in the morning our time back home) and hitting the ground running all day. But regardless of our jet lag, we were still in awe of such a magnificent building.

The Time of Our Lives

Travel Necessities & Tips

So my mother is just the sweetest lady in the whole world. I already knew this but it's always nice to be reminded when she does little things like this. I have traveled quite a bit but it's been awhile and my parents travel all the time. Like All. The. Time. So she was very kind and thoughtful to put together a little bag for us of things that we would need for our trip.

I've also been trying to collect tips from people who have been to Paris or Amsterdam before. You know, favorite spots to eat, dos and don'ts of Parisian society, and those touristy traps to avoid. I have one Instagram friend who sent me a myriad of wisdom about Paris and her numerous trips there. It is going to be super helpful to us.

Along with planning for our trip, I also try to stay inspired by reading, watching films, and listening to music....all French or Dutch inspired. The book below has been a fun little read but all the while I've just reminded myself it is a secular read so there are parts that are not the greatest morally. Take the fun, helpful tips and throw out the rest.

Welcome to the family, Baby Graham!

Today I had an in-home photo session of my new nephew, Graham. He is ten days old today and growing like a little weed! It was so much fun (although a bit challenging) capturing all the love for this little guy! Graham's big sister, Phoebe, loves to give him passionate hugs and kisses and sings to him,"It's ok, Gwam" when he begins to cry. 

Welcome to the family, Graham! Oh how we love you so! 

Live Life Beautifully

"God writes the gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in 

the flowers and clouds and stars." ~ Martin Luther 

Ten

Today I thought I would share ten things that I am loving right now. A few of them are new discoveries and a few not so new but I thought I would share anyway! Enjoy! 

1. I do love a good home decorating book. The Kinfolk Home was just recently released and I've been loving browsing it's beautiful pages. The simplicity, style, and emphasis Nathan Williams puts on slow living captivates me. As Nathan states at the beginning of  the book, "Slow living isn't about determining how little we can live with - it's about working out what we simply can't live without." 

2. I'm a girl through and through and what girl doesn't love a good lip color and balm? These ones from Anthropologie are fantastic. Albeit lipsticks come in an assortment of beautiful colors and I love their vintage gold outer shell. They remind me of lipsticks my grandmother would carry in her clutch to church on Sunday. Smith's lip balm comes in various flavors and packaging. Anthro no longer carries it but you can find it in several stores online. Smith's lip balm has a myriad of uses. It aids in the relief of chapped skin, diaper rash, blemishes, detergent burns, rough cuticles, and to soften rough hands, so it's basically like carrying a little first aid tin in your purse.  

3. Community. It's such a beautiful thing. One of the main things I love about my church is the community of believers that live out daily life together. It is not uncommon for me to get a text from a friend throughout the week wanting to meet for coffee, go to lunch, or go shopping together. We have a missional community that meets together every week and eats dinner together, discusses the sermon on Sunday, fellowship, and pray together. Our missional community is made up of mainly college students and I count it such a joy to be apart of their lives at such a crucial stage. We are hoping to do some college outreach soon to get even more students involved. I have another group of girls I meet together with weekly to go through a book study together, hold each other accountable, and share the highs and lows of life with each other. 

4. Which brings me to #4. I am currently going through John: A 12 Week Study (Knowing the Bible) by Justin Buzzard with my wonderful group of girls. It's been a great little study so far on the book of John and challenges me to study the Word and dive in deeper to this wonderful gospel. I love this series and would like to study more of them when I am finished with John. 

5. Ok, lovers of period dramas everywhere: I have found a new favorite tv show! I discovered The Time In Between while browsing Netflix one day. If you don't mind reading subtitles than you have to give this show a go! I have not gotten more wrapped up in a television show in a long time. Set in Spain in the 1940's, a beautiful seamstress sews dresses for Nazi officers' wives while spying on them to get information to the British. Yes, please. Unfortunately, there was only one season created but it's a beautiful story to get lost in. The cinematography, costumes, characters, musical score...everything is perfecto! You're welcome. 

6. Cooking. Yes, I never thought I would see the day when I actually enjoyed cooking but I am beginning to find some small satisfaction in it. Now that I am at home full time I have a lot more freedom to search for delicious recipes and try my hand at new ones (like Julia Child's recipe for mashed potatoes pictured above). I can't wait to try that one. I made a John Wayne casserole for the first time the other night and Josh and I loved it. I thought I would share the recipe here. I have an entire collection of amazing recipes that I have either tried or can't wait to try on my Pinterest board here if you care to follow. Included in my collection is Julia's dish pictured above. 

7. Marble. I have really loved seeing white marble all over my Pinterest feed. Marble utensil holders, marble countertops, faux marble iphone cases, and even marble-looking Apple computer covers. I purchased this marble lazy-susan for my dining room table a couple months ago and adore it! It is so sturdy, genuine marble, swivels perfectly, and looks lovely with a candle or vase of flowers displayed on top.I purchased it for a steal too at World Market.  

8. Starbucks' Cinnamon Dolce lattes have always been a favorite of mine so when I discovered they have them available in Keurig cups you could imagine my delight! It's hard for me to have just one a day but I am trying to ration them. They are THAT GOOD. 

9. Capes, scarves, and cape scarves. I snagged this little beauty at a friend's yard sale last Saturday. Anthropologie and it still had the tags on it! I felt like I had won the lottery! I love it so much. I wore it to church on Sunday and I received numerous compliments on it. If you can go out in public wearing a gorgeous blanket around your shoulders, why not?? I have had my eye on this number and have asked for Madewell gifts cards for my birthday so maybe it will be mine soon! Get in my closet NOW! :) Here is another version pictured below. A cape (with pockets!!!) AND a scarf? Oh my. 

10. The Minimalists. I've discovered a new fascinating blog! How to live with less. I am an anti-hoarder to begin with so my poor husband when this is all said and done may have three shirts left to wear. No, in all seriousness, Josh and Ryan have inspired me to declutter my life and make room for only that which "brings joy and serves a purpose." I especially enjoyed reading their post on A Month of Minimalism. Great tips! One quote that I found on their blog stuck with me: "Never underestimate the importance of abandoning crap you don't need." 

I hope you enjoyed my ten things that I'm loving right now. I would love to hear what's making you smile or what exciting finds you've discovered as of late! Leave me a comment! I hope just maybe you saw or read something that inspired you a little bit or made you curious to try something new. 

Until next time, lovelies! xoxo

Savoring the Season

I'm really loving this season I am in right now. Sure, I still have to check myself at times for discontentment but I am learning to savor the season and just enjoy this time. My husband made the decision for me to come home a few months ago and I have never been happier. Home is my niche. It's where I am happiest and most at peace. It's my heart.  I have so enjoyed cooking meals for Josh, cleaning (yes, I'm that weird Monica-type personality) and making a peaceful, lovely home that he can return to at the end of a long work day. Sure, there are days where I feel like maybe my life doesn't have a lot of meaning but then I am reminded that my greatest job and responsibility that God has given me is to love my husband and to do it well.

During this season I have enjoyed making my home a more cozy haven for our family. Our home is our refuge to come back to from a busy and complicated world. When we come inside it's doors we leave our cares and troubles outside. It's a place of rest and comfort...and a whole lot of love. I've enjoyed blogging about my adventures, about decorating, and just sharing my heart to others. I have found pleasure in spending time with friends, new and old, and developing relationships. I am enjoying every week going to some of our dearest friend's home and breaking bread together with them and some awesome college students that the Lord has brought into our lives. God has given us a community of believers to rally around and support each other through everyday life. That is priceless. I am so thankful for each of them.

I encourage you, wherever you are in life, to enjoy this season. Regardless if you are single, married, a mom, or whoever, the season you are in will pass all too soon. Don't waste it desiring to be in another season. This season God has ordained for me to enjoy my husband, making a home for him, and sharing God's love with those around me. As Anne Shirley would say, "I want to soak it all in." 

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1

Sweet November

This month is a collector of memories. Sweet November, you always create the loveliest of moments. You remind me of that beautiful chilly day where I stood under the magnolia trees of that antebellum home and said yes to forever with my best friend. You remind me of hiking the mountains (and those muddy, slippery cliffs) with my new husband in Kauai. You bring to memory that fall that I traveled through New England with my Dad after my graduation that summer and the countless Thanksgivings our family gathered around the table and shared what we were most thankful for that year. Yes, November, you are deliciously sweet. 

Halloween & One of my Favorite Dating Memories

It's Halloween Week! I absolutely love this time of year. I am one of those rare girls who love scary movies. I love the adrenaline rush, having an excuse (do I even need one?) to cuddle up to my husband and bury my face in his chest, and hanging onto that hope deep down that the innocent people in the story will get out alive. It's also an ego boost because I think to myself, "What an idiot! Why are you doing that? Take the gun, kick him where it counts, or hide there instead of under the bed. Every murderer checks under the bed. I would be soooo much smarter in this situation." Haha.

One of my favorite dating memories is actually a Halloween memory. Josh and my dating experience was pretty horrible. I was very analytical and several times we almost broke up. That's a story for another time. It happened to be Halloween week 2010. My parents had left to go out of town the week before and my mom told me, "Take these next two weeks while we are gone and just pray really hard about your relationship with Josh and decide if you really want to be with him. If at the end of those two weeks, if you are still struggling with anxiety and doubt then you really need to break up with him and move on." This had been going on for a long time and I just could not get peace about our relationship.

Those next two weeks changed everything. I believe that's when I really started falling in love, or at least truly realizing it and that I could never in a million years let this guy go. I didn't share with Josh what my mom had told me but just kept it to myself, prayed, and decided that if these were the last two weeks we had together than I wanted to make them memorable.

My brother, Nate, was in town and after I closed up shop at Coldwater Books, where I was working at the time, we headed over to the bachelor pad (where Josh lived with my brother in law and another friend). Josh just happened to have rented The Shining that night. I wasn't used to scary movies so it completely freaked me out. I remember glaring at Josh at one point during the movie and saying, "WHY ARE YOU SHOWING ME THIS???" We still laugh about it.

During that next week he introduced me to Halloween (the movie), I carved my first pumpkin, we roasted pumpkin seeds, went on a haunted ghost tour around Florence with a local historian, took in a haunted house or two, had bonfires, and attended a Halloween party at a friend's house. I had never fully experienced Halloween and I was loving every minute of it! I found myself instead of analyzing the relationship, worrying about how I was going to live without my best friend who I enjoyed experiencing everything with. It made the moments much more special and meaningful. I didn't want to lose this amazing person I could be myself around, laugh at cheesy horror movies, grab onto when turning the next corner of that haunted house, and preparing costumes together.

For the Halloween party we tried to come up with some cheap and creative costume ideas. I pitched the idea that Josh should go as Edward Cullen. There are few things Josh hates more than Twilight so for him to agree to this was a definite sign of true love. I thought for a few seconds of going as Bella but I wouldn't have much of a costume. I decided to go as a psycho killer in a mask instead because first of all, I could just dress in black and wear a mask Josh already owned, and second, let's face it, the killer would have more personality and be loads more interesting than going as Kristen Stewart.

Josh made an amazing Edward and people knew right away who he was! Success! We poofed his hair up and gave it lots of body, he painted his face and chest with white paint, sprinkled some sparkles on his skin and tada! I've included an old photo of us at the party for kicks and giggles. It's pretty dark so you can't see details extremely well, and I'm not wearing my mask, (obviously) but I still like this photo of us.

That Halloween was such a special time. I realized that I didn't want to spend future Halloweens with anyone but Josh. Also, because of Josh, Halloween has become one of my favorite holidays. We already have our costumes picked out for this year's party and I am so excited! I am reminded how blessed I am to share another amazing holiday with this awesome guy. 

White Pumpkins & Lattes

It's here. That most wonderful time of the year. Bring out the flannels, booties, and over-sized sweaters. There's something very nostalgic about this season for me. Maybe it's because it reminds me of packing up the motor home and traveling through New England and Canada for weeks at a time with my family while Dad shadowed various pulpits. Or maybe it's the memories of hayrides and corn mazes that I shared with childhood friends. Or perhaps it's when I finally realized I was falling in love. Maybe it's my lovely November wedding I shared with that same man on the lawn in front of that antebellum home.

This morning I made myself a pumpkin pie latte sprinkled with cinnamon while I read on the couch. It's moments like these that I sit and thank God for His many blessings. I look forward to apple-picking, enjoying my mom's homemade wassail, catching old episodes of Felicity and Gilmore Girls, and camping with the family. It's moments like these that make that very special time of year so wonderful.