ChildLike

So today, I took to breaking in my Canon Rebel XTI by playing taking pictures on campus. And might I say, I an in a euphoria. It so much clearer and easier to see the beauty in everything when actually looking for it.

Seriously, its the same feeling you get from endorphins when running. And I love it.

{can you see the bluebird?}

This week I really want to talk about rediscovering childhood dreams+talents. Partially I'm inspired from Mindy Gledhill's workshop on discovering talents+cultivating creating and the happy childlike feeling I get from starting to play with photography. 

I'm like a kid in a candy store. 

What did you want to be when you were a child? I always wanted to be a ballerina and like any other little girl I loved doing hair on my dolls. I used to have an imaginary sister (being an only child can get kind of boring), until I got my puppy. I also used to play 'potions' in my tree house. Or hide and go seek in the bushes out front of our house. I used to be able to find joy in just the simplest things. Until I grew up. Were you like that?

A great indication of something you love, is just that you've always felt drawn to it. Like I never thought I'd love gardening, until I tried it. But I always loved going to the gardening section at home development stores before we got married, and I remember always loving to play in my grandma's green house. I just liked being around things that were alive. 

Take some time and think about what you could find a hidden love in. It may surprise you. 

Happy new Monday!

~M

Daddy's birthday+splurge-arama

Sorry for being a day late guys. I just wanted to say, I have done my best to stop negative self-talking, which has already in a week improved my self-confidence.

Hope everyone's weekend was great! My daddy's birthday was today, but we celebrated it yesterday by going to SIZZLER!

 

{And of course we did a puzzle}

Happy birthday daddy! I love you so so much. You taught me about compassion, kindness, charity, sympathy, and saying sorry first. All that I needed to know to prepare me for marriage. I miss you so much since I've moved out of home. I miss you waking me up for school, or to go grocery shopping with you. I miss you making me grilled cheese sandwhichs, 

and I miss having you waiting up for me when I get home from a date.

I love you so so much! 

And so...here comes my big surprise... I bought this on a last minute splurge impulse...

And I'm smitten. 

{I took this with my new play toy}

I plan to take many fun+inventive photoshoots. I want to get good. I am so glad that I bought this, I've always wanted to get into photography since it's one of my undeveloped loves 

but I never wanted to spend all that money on the gear.

Good news is that I got it for a S T E A L! 

Seriously, half of what a full priced tech store wanted.

Look forward to some fun stuff. 

Any advice+suggestions+comments are W E L C O M E !

Happy new week!

~M

p.s. blog address changes tonight at midnight. 

No if's and's or buts' about it.

Redeemed Embarrassment Friday

You know when you get those days that you don't have to do anything? Today was one of those DIVINELY BEAUTIFUL days. I got to sleep in until 2pm. Yeah, I know rather wasteful! But I was rather tired from my graveyard shifts+molecular biology test so I didn't feel to bad.

Once I was up and going I was determined to make this a day of whatever I wanted it to be, which included some YOGA, shopping, and getting a hair cut.

{via}

Everything was on schedule. I made it to my yoga class on time, early actually, dressed and ready with water. I walked into a fairly large class which I was expecting to be easy, calming, and relaxing. Oh how was I wrong. At least fifty shivasina's and downward dogs doing two push-ups each. In the first twenty minutes. Anyways in the midst of our balance+arm workout section I started to get dizzy. I ignored it. Then I started to get double vision and I all of a sudden couldn't hear. And what do you know, my legs started to give and the world began spinning. I as unatrusively tried to sneak out of class without making a scene, and then basically blacked out in the hall. Thank goodness the front desk girl had some bread she gave me. Then after a bit of sitting my color came back and I didn't feel so awful. Oh walking back into class I could have DIED. I hope no one saw that episode.

But you know what made it all better? Stopping in to do the next thing on my list, which was some shopping at my favorite boutique Cherry Lane and seeing that Mindy Gledhill was performing+workshop on talents. I skipped my hair cut to stay and listen. It was A M A Z I N G!

I love the music this sweet woman creates and her sincere presence and passion for what she does.



She had so much to say about following your dreams+exploring your talents. And what's even more is her music conveys it as well. And you know what? Both of those things need self-confidence. And Mindy has gads and gads of it.

What about you? Have you done anything to increase your self confidence or je ne said quoi this week?

Enjoy her music until tomorrow when I finish up our week on confidence. 

~M

Guest post THURSDAY

This weeks guest post-er is a good friend from high school, and fellow blogger, Jamie Welch now Jaro (don't you just LOVE her last name?)  

Hello everyone! I’m Jamie – one of The Lovebirdies. I’m truly honored to be asked to guest post today by my dear friend Melissa.

We are taught from kindergarten how to “spot the differences” between two pictures. That bird has an extra feather, there’s a toothbrush in the broom – toothbrushes do not belong in brooms my friends. I could tell the difference when I was 5.

                As we grow, our attention to detail grows more poignant. It also turns our ability to see what doesn’t fit inward. We begin to separate ourselves from the adequacy of a loving Heavenly Father and compare. Such an ugly word these days, isn’t it? Compared to my friend I have no talent. Compared to my sister I’m hot-headed. Compared with my aunt I have no style. All these comparisons – plus millions more I’ve piled on myself – are heavy.

                I felt very early on (as girls are wont to do) that I was never good enough for the world’s standard. Not skinny enough, not outgoing enough, not funny enough, not quiet enough and still not loud enough. But for whom?

                Usually not enough for me.

                We all battle feelings of insecurity in our lives. But why when we are clearly told the way to have self confidence? One of my favorite ways we are reminded comes from D&C 121:45. It says if you have charity and “let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God.”

                If you can be confidenct in God’s presence, you can be confident around anyone.

                This teaching is so very dear to my heart. There are many times when I feel I am not living up to the standards of others and I’m miserable about it. I get down on myself for not being pretty enough or smart enough. I begin to have cyclical beat down sessions that drive me to a darkened room and put me in tears. In these gloomy times the only thing that seems to pull me out of it is prayer.

                Something about speaking to an unconditionally loving Father changes me from the inside out. I am reminded that all He asks is that I do my best. That I remember who I am: His daughter. He wouldn’t have made me if He didn’t see potential for greatness inside. He doesn’t waste His time or energy. My faith is usually enough to get me going. It motivates me to becoming a better me.

This, I’m sure, is the pure light of Christ.

The world teaches us that the way to self-confidence is by being better than someone else. This is a lie. The Savior teaches that the way to earn self-confidence is by seeking anything “virtuous, lovely or of good report or praiseworthy.” I promise that if you do this and serve your neighbor your self confidence will improve. We all have such great self-worth in the perfect eyes of our Heavenly Father. It can’t hurt to see this once in a while ourselves, can it?

I know it is so much easier said than done but I encourage everyone to try. Here are some ideas to get you going:

Serve. I can’t stress this enough. Jesus Christ never griped and groaned while handing out fish and bread, did he? No, I assure you, he didn’t.

Tell someone you love him/her. You’ll probably hear it back.

Smile even when you don’t want to. When my depressed days come sometimes the only way to keep from crying is to smile. Every time I do I think of all the blessings in my life and the smile becomes real.

Pray. Pray again.

Be kind to your body. Feed it good things and exercise it often. You’ll naturally feel better.

Do extraordinary things. I’m not Wonder Woman but who says I can’t act like her?

My hope and prayer is that all of us, women especially, can study and develop our own self worth and see how truly special we each are. It’s only fair that we use our lives as personal tributes to the one who created us. I am so grateful for my own personal testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the reason I look forward to tomorrow with courage and conviction.

I could never have said that any better then Jamie! She's completely spot on, and I love that about her. She knows just how to say something with flair, and full truth. Check out her B L O G ! Don't her and her hubby Shehan make SUCH a cute couple?! I vote yes. 

Have a great THURSDAY! I'll be taking a molecular biology test. ICK!

~M

P.S. this is our ONE HUNDRED and FIFTIETH post!

You're IT

Tagged: by my marvelous new friend Mandy over at Hippy Chic. Check her  O U T!


Oh, these are a few of my favorite things....

food: The one and only, Cafe Rio Pork Salad. Hold the cilantro, double pico. Mmmm!

color: icy steel blue. Or lilac purple. Can't quite decide which right now.

animal: the dog we're soon going to have. We're thinking Golden Retriever. Thoughts?

sports team: BYU basketball. enough said.

dessert: PB choc cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory. Hands down.

artist: lovin' a little Glen Hansard from The Frames. Specifically 'Falling Slowly'

pair of shoes: Jones NY Cecelius Floral Print Pump. Yes please!

outfit: Skinny cords from GAP, ballet flats, colorful V-neck top, cashmere cardigan sweater.

skinny jeans: yes thank you. So far I've only found skinnies I've loved from Express.

brand: for what specifically? I'm very picky. Currently loving shirts+tops from Nordstroms.

perfume: but of course my latest buy from Sephora, Poppy by Coach.

accessory: I'm actually really loving scarves right now. Soft, floral, light, colorful scarves.

city: San Clemente. Smack in the middle of San Fran and LA. Check it.

hobby: gardening. specifically bulbs in beautiful ceramic pots.

beauty product: NARS orgasm blush. Trust me. You'll L O V E it. So worth the money.

holiday: anyday me and my hubby have off from our jobs+school+responsibilities, which is rare.

snack: Doritos Xtra cheesy

movie: currently watching Father of the Bride via netflix; all time favorite is a close tie between Ocean's 11 and Despicable Me. Love me some Disney/Pixar.

song: loving Miranda Lambert's 'Heart Like Mine' cause we're all a little bit stubborn sometimes.

guilty pleasure: snuggling with my hubby and letting his legs warm my frozen feet...socks are a thing of the past don't you know?


POPCORN to:

Krystle at krystlewahnschaffe.blogspot.com
Jamie at shehanandjamie.blogspot.com
Tori at scottyandtori.blogspot.com
and...
Haley at crazychicagordita.blogspot.com  whose blog I'm designing...tell me what you think

P.S. no matter what you're favorites are, be confident about them!

Happy Wednesday!

~M

Tasty Tuesday

So as promised my favorite, delicious, and simple cookie recipe. If any of you have the Worldwide Ward Cookbook you know about this, but for those that don't you are missing out! This is one recipe that lets you have your cookie and eat it too, in a matter of minutes!

Ingredients:

One 16 (or 32 oz.) can of pumpkin- not the filling...its the big size
One box of spice cake
and one bag of chocolate chips

mix and spoon onto a lightly pam sprayed cookie sheet

pop in the oven at 350 degrees for 9 minutes,

let cool,


DEVOUR.

For those from Tasty Tuesday link up: hope you enjoy!!!

Je ne sais quoi

: something that cannot be adequately described or expressed.

Doesn't every woman want to have that kind of allure to her? To have people know her, like her, and be filled with intrigue as to what makes her so appealing that it cannot be expressed in words?

A lot of the world looks at je ne sais quoi as an intimate or sexual aspect, but I feel that every woman (and man) can and should have something in-describable about them in every setting or environment they find themselves in.

{Via, via, via, and via}

I fully and truly believe that thing that cannot be adequately described or expressed is confidence. Confidence in whatever she is, a poet, painter, singer, dancer, runner, mother, etc. Although specifically, I don't feel that confidence in what you do is just the answer, however that is VERY important. I feel it is even more overwhelmingly critical about having confidence in how you do what you do such as being graceful, strong willed, outspoken, intelligent, witty, funny, tender hearted, calming, reassuring, etc.

In addition to this confidence and positive attitude of how you live your life, I think a fundamental basis of someone who has je ne sais quoi is that they have values+beliefs+integrity. Find something you believe in, something you try and live each day for. Leave each situation you find yourself in, better than you found it. For me, this is my religion. For everyone it may be different, the key is to just find something that makes you want to be a better person.

Whether you're a right or left brain thinker, this concept of life applies to you.

How do you go about doing the things you do, work, home life, school etc.?
Overall, do you feel like you try and leave people with positive feelings no matter how tired, annoyed, stressed, or anxious you are?
What will you change to develop your je ne sais quoi?

In the end, je ne sais quoi is to leave them wanting more. Wanting to spend more time with you, to hear more of what you have to say, to see more of what you do.

How will you do that?

voilà