The Post That will Probably Never be Posted: Inspiration Page #1

I found this post saved as a draft.  I put the original post together almost a year ago in an effort to consolidate all the wedding ideas I found that I liked.  I never published the post, but as I was going through some old posts, I came across this and thought I would share it with you!  

It is really funny to look at these pictures and compare what I liked to what I actually ended up incorporating into my own wedding day!  There are some major differences, and ideas that I let go, but there are a lot of things that I did end up using from this post!  Here, and here, are some pictures of my wedding. 

The purpose of this photo (from Style me Pretty) is to get a good look at Norm's suit.

I like the idea of something that is a cross between that one, and the one below, which I got from one of my all-time favorite blogs.

I am in love with her necklace, and with the idea of the chalkboard.

And, of course, the bright yellow cardigan.

And it goes without saying that I adore the banner. What a great idea.

I like the video camera concept, but I also think it would be really neat to have a scrapbook/memory book kind of thing and have each person/family/couple take a picture of themselves with one of those little cameras that spits out the sticker photo things (I had one when I was in about the forth grade... Not even sure if they still make those anymore!)Then, everyone could write some words of wisdom, encouragement, whatever, on the page next to their picture...



This bride had this card (about the size of a standard notecard) on top of each napkin during the reception. The picture is hard to read, but it says, "Two lives united in friendship, Two friends united in love, One love united in Christ."

Loving the idea of using this tree idea, from Hostess with the Mostess, as a money tree at the wedding.

And this sweet buffet table from her too!

Maybe something in between that and these next two images, also from Hostess with the Mostess

I am torn though. Although I love the whimsical, sweet feel of the candy bar, I am totally in love with the sweetness and simplicity of this wedding. The following pictures are from oncewed.com.... a great wedding blog!

Or here is another spin on the same kind of idea, from Ruffled... another one of my favorites.

For the reception, from 100 Layer Cake...

Nothing says "southern" like strawberry shortcake...

And moonpies, from here, as guest favors :)

There is a whole tutorial on them at Oncewed!

The next series of pictures were taken by a friend of mine, Will Knowles, at a friend of mine's wedding:

And lastly, I absolutely ADORE this Canadian wedding, posted on Ruffled.

Saturday Salutes

As you may know from some of my older posts, like this one... and this one...I am a HUGE Audrey Hepburn fan, and this article, from Charlotte at The Great Fitness Experiment, echoes my sentiments exactly. 

Photo from here

Here is a lesser known fact about myself:  I used to collect Care Bears, and much of the collection still remains today.  So there's the story behind my fondness for this post, from Cupcakes Take the Cake.

Click here for the photo

This kitchen with the ladder in it reminds me of... Beauty and the Beast!  In the beginning when she is singing... "I want adventure in the great wide somewhere... la tee da...., etc.", she goes into the bookstore and glides across the wall of bookshelves on a ladder! 

Click here for the photo

Click here for the photo

Maybe this is slightly more realistic.  Maybe ladders do, in fact, belong in bookstores... and not in kitchens.  But that does not make the idea any less appealing!

This outfit would have been perfect for the weather we had this week.  I love the bag, and the huge flower on her blazer... 

Click here for the photo

And I love the post on Creamy Life featuring inspirational memo boards!  

Click here for the photo

Click here for the photo

Click here for the photo.

HAPPY WEEKEND!!!!

Long and Healthy

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?  You are not your own."  - 1 Corinthians 6:19

Working with the elderly has opened my eyes to a whole new world.  And lately, in particular, it has made me aware of how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle right now, while I am still young.

During my time as a care manager I have come in contact with so many variations of older people.  I have come in contact with young 80- year- olds.  They are still able to cook their own meals and clean their own homes.  They still have the ability to manage their own finances.  They have the ability and the desire to socialize; they have close, healthy relationships with family and friends.

On the flip side of that, I have met incredibly old 65- year- olds who spend most of their time either in bed at home or in bed at the hospital.  These "older" old people seem to have less of a support network, and seem to come from a learned cycle of poor choices concerning health.

There is such a thing as aging healthily, and it begins now.  Learning healthy habits is too late when you are already 65.  People in general are living so much longer lives than we used to, but in order for us to retain quality of life during our later years, we have to begin making proper choices now.

Historically speaking, I do not necessarily live a healthy lifestyle.  I do not habitually overeat, but the foods I do choose to eat are not normally the best ones for me.  I have never been athletic, and overall, am not even physically active much of the time.  If our bodies sit still and do not get exercise, they only want to sit still MORE and exercise LESS.  This is why it is important for elderly people to get moving some each day.  Our minds work in a way similar to that of our bodies:  in order for them to stay sharp, they much stay active. 

A few days ago, I mentioned three spiritual principles that are essential to the Christian life.  And today, I am mentioning the three lifestyle principles that are essential in maintaining longevity and quality of life.  Keep in mind, I am no expert; these are just my observations and thoughts, based upon what limited knowledge I do have.  

Principle One:  Practice healthy, balanced eating habits. 
In their February issue, Real Simple provides a list of the 30 healthiest foods, along with great tips on how to incorporate those foods into simple meals.  Since Andrew and I are starting at square one, I am making it my goal to include at least one item from this list into each grocery list, and between each grocery visit, I will incorporate that one item into at least one meal.  Baby steps.  :) 
Here are the foods on their list: 

I am ashamed to admit it, but the only foods on the list that we currently have in our home are almonds, eggs, extra-virgin olive oil, oatmeal, skim milk, and whole-grain pasta.  Until yesterday we had yogurt, but I finished that off at breakfast! 

I am excited to try some of the foods on the list that I normally would not think to buy: edamame, kale, quinoa...

Principle Two: Exericse your body.
Exercising keeps our bodies active and ready for movement.  In order for our bodies to be able to age well, we must keep our circulatory systems moving.  One effective, affordable, and easy way to do this is by... WALKING! Too much stress combined with too little exercise negatively effects energy flow.  Walking can decrease stress, and is also a great form of exercise.  Walter Bortz, an expert on longevity and healthy aging, suggests that if we are healthy and responsible, we have no reason to start aging until about age 80.  The definition of aging is, "minimal interruption of usual function, although minimal signs and symptoms of chronic disease may be present."  Dr. Bortz also suggests that we decide how long we would like to live and then plan for it!  Here are his 100 steps to living 100 years. 
If you are like me, you are much more sedentary during the winter than any other time of year.  It is too cold to walk outside, and even if it were not too cold, it gets too dark to walk outside by the time you get off work at 5 or 6pm.  Another affordable form of exercise I have been recently re-introduced to is JUMP ROPING! Along with their list of healthy ingredients,  Real Simple included a very do-able 15 minute jump rope routine in their February issue.  I did it for the first time last night, and feel great today!  Although I will say that fifteen minutes of jumping rope sure felt like a long fifteen minutes!  :)

If this guy can do it, so can we!

Principle three:  Exercise your mind!
In order to be kept sharp, our brains must be in constant use!  Yes, our brains do deteriorate some as we age, but the more we learn, the bigger our brains get.  So... we build reserve capacity every time we learn something!  Some effective and fun cognitive activities include things like reading, putting together jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, word searches, sudoku, cooking by reading and following specific recipes, driving somewhere unfamiliar by following directions on a map (rather than using a GPS!), trying a new activity that you have not tried before (for example, if you are a paper-crafter, try your hand at sewing something, or visa versa). 
One way to keep your mind active may be to set small goals for yourself.  If you are not a reader, make a goal of reading one book a month.  To help motivate you, maybe you will order a subscription to a favorite magazine and read it from front to back every month.  Or maybe you could become a member of a book club in order to have accountability partners in this area.  You could even join or form a scrapbooking or puzzle club.  Let's get creative!!!  Challenges are always more fun, and easier to overcome, when shared with others.

Photo from here

Other things essential to maintaining quality of life at any stage are:
Good dental care and upkeep (We need good teeth in order to eat nuts, which are some of the healthiest things we can put into our bodies).
Strong support groups through church, clubs, friends, etc.
Healthy marriages or romantic relationships (versus unhealthy ones)

Some quick take-aways from todays post:

• Add at least ONE "healthy food" to your next grocery list, and to at least one meal this week. 
• Get moving... either by walking or jump roping.
• Read a book. 
• Try one new thing this week, no matter how small!

"Speaking generally, all parts of the body which have a function, if used in moderation and exercised in labors to which each is accustomed, become healthy and age slowly.  But if unused and left idle they become liable to disease, defective in growth and age quickly." - Hippocrates, 370 B.C.

Spring Crafting

The weather we had here last week was unbelievably pretty and warm.  I knew that its staying that way for long was just too much to hope for, so instead of lugging all my spring clothes out of the attic, I made this wreath!  

Behold my tribute to gorgeous spring weather.  :)

BEFORE:

AFTER: 

 A little hot glue...

 Buttons...

 Fabric scraps...

 And voila!

This was a very quick and easy project.  Next time I make one, I will do a few things differently in an effort to make some minor improvements, but overall, I was pleased with the result.  I just used things I already had at home, but next time I will add MORE fabric, and probably some ribbon.  The beauty of this project: no sewing involved!

It's a good thing I held off on those spring clothes, because of course, it is now cool and rainy out. Guess the wreath will keep me company inside the house for a few more weeks before taking its place on the front door.

Baseball and Strawberries

The past week or so, Andrew’s job has kept him out a little later than normal.  He helps coach baseball, and, along with the beautiful weather we have had lately comes…. Baseball practice.  Since I get home around 5:00 each afternoon, and he does not get home until 7:30 or 8:00, I have had a little bit of extra time to put into making dinner each night.  And by the time 7:30 or 8:00 rolls around, he is more than ready for a good dinner.  Actually, by the time 7:30 or 8:00 rolls around, I think he would eat just about anything, good or not!  

My battle with food has been ongoing.  Our rocky relationship started years ago.  I think that every girl has some sort of issue with food, and the consumption thereof.  The degrees differ, and the issues are expressed differently, but I think we have all had a struggle with food and eating, even if only in some itty bitty way. 

In college, when my issues with food and eating began to interfere with my daily life: my health, my relationships, my goals, it became obvious that something had to be done.  Something that really helped with my healing process, and in my reconciliation with food, was taking a cake decorating class.  Up to this point, I had always had a weakness for sweets, and this class really helped me to embrace that weakness! It was therapeutic in that it helped me see the literal beauty of food.  It helped me see food as an art form.  And just as food can be aesthetically beautiful if put to use in a certain way, it can also be a beautiful thing for our bodies if consumed and used in a proper way.  

These days, I have expanded my diet from just sweets.  Although I do try to consume a healthy variety of foods, I still prefer sweets.  And indulging in something sweet is something I do daily.  I think that indulgence has its place in a person’s life and diet just as control does; both are perfectly acceptable in moderation. 

With this principle in mind, and with extra time on my hands, I have begun the process of spreading my efforts in the kitchen from baking to actual cooking.  My meals are never fancy; in fact, they are very basic.  For instance, I hard-boiled my first egg ever last week. 

On the menu for last night: Spring Strawberry Salad.  Here is the original recipe.  I made some slight altercations in order to fit Andrew’s taste.     

Spring Strawberry Salad

• 1 bag of salad
• 2 chicken breasts, cubed
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing
• 1 pint of strawberries
• 4 ounces of goat cheese
• 6 ounces of almonds, sliced or whole (I used whole because that’s what we had)
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 4 tablespoons of raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing

Place the chicken in a skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of raspberry vinaigrette over medium heat.  Cook and stir until the meat is browned, about ten minutes.  Put the meat in a bowl and let it cool. 

Place the lettuce into a large salad bowl; scatter strawberries, goat cheese, and almonds over the lettuce and toss or stir.

Drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 4 tablespoons of raspberry vinaigrette over the salad and top with chicken.

The salad can be served warmed or chilled. 

I wanted to add blueberries to the salad, but they were extra expensive at the grocery store yesterday.  Since I was really craving them, I compromised and bought a sixty-nine cent Kroger brand blueberry muffin mix and had a blueberry muffin with my salad.  The muffins were a perfect compliment to the light, springy taste of the salad. 

And Andrew LOVED it!  In my book, that means it was a success.  

It is freezing and gloomy outside now, so strawberry salad seems a bit out of place.  But it was a great little splash of spring against the yucky winter backdrop!  And, if you ask me, spring cannot get here soon enough!

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like these blogs:  


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Shedding New Light

Generally, I am not a huge fan of The Message translation.  Maybe I am just a ceature of habit, but I never have been able to get used to reading it and noticing such marked differences between its paraphrases and the words of the NIV translation that I grew up memorizing. 

Some such words are those found in Matthew chapter five.  AKA:  The Beattitudes.  This is a very popular passage of scripture and one that I grew up hearing over and over again.  I love the passage, and I think it is both a wonderful encouragement and a challenge to Christians.  But after hearing it so many times through the years, I guess the words lost some of their weight.  They became simply that: words. 

A few months ago, our pastor gave a sermon during which he read the NIV Beattitudes, but he also read The Message version on the passage as well.  This is how Matthew 5 is presented there:

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.


"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.

"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.

"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.

"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.

"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

For me, this passage brought new life into words that had become a bit stale.  We are blessed when we are at the end of our ropes.  We are blessed when we care.  We are blessed when our hunger for God is insatiable.  We are blessed when we get our inside worlds put right.  For me, those things hit so close to home.  Those are the things that I need to work on.  After reading this paraphrase of the Beattitudes, I went back and re-read the NIV translation, which now holds seems so much more powerful and personal: 

 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. "

Basic Principles

I was reminded over the weekend that there are certain principles Christians should live by.  These principles make room for God to do His work in our lives.  And without these principles, worldly distractions, lusts, and activities choke out the room in our hearts that should be reserved for Christ. And ALL of our heart should be reserved for Christ.

The three principles:  Prayer, time studying the Bible, and fasting.  These things sound so easy and obvious; however, they often get pushed to the bottom of our to-do lists when those lists become filled with our own, human agendas. 

Through an incredible man of God whom I had contact with this weekend, I was reminded that when we spend time in prayer, in the Word, and in fasting, that time is not wasted.  Whatever we invest in Christ is never lost; instead, something is always gained.  Time is not lost when it is committed to Christ.  Through obedience and through the sacrafice of time, something is gained.  Through these three principles we make ourselves available for Christ.  We become vessels at His disposal, for the sake of His cause.  And Christ does not work through people because they are great, or because there is something extra-special about them.  He works through people because they are available.  He works through them because they are seeking.  That is who I want to be. I do not want to be great;  I want to be available. 

Prayer
Reading of Scripture
Fasting

With these three principles, I spend a lot of time in prayer and in the scripture last night.  Although I am ashamed to admit it, last night was the first night in quite a while that I have done this.  And in return?  I gained.  I gained peace of mind.  I gained energy that I have not felt in a long time.  And I came across this verse: 

"To this end I labor, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me."  - Colossians 1:29

Paul says that he struggling with all HIS energy.  By "his," he is refering to Jesus Christ.  He struggles in Christ's supernatural strength.  He draws from Christ's energy.  He relies on Christ's power... not on His own.  This is what we are called to do.  We are to live each day dependant upon the power of the Living God, rather than only remembering to turn to that power when we are at the end of our ropes. 

This is what I was convicted of last night.  And I awoke this morning with a renewed spirit, and ready to begin a new week! 

It's gonna be a good one!  Let's all rely on His energy to make us more than conquers this week!

Saturday Salutes

Here are some of my favorite things that other bloggers posted this week:

Our beautiful weather this week REALLY gave me spring fever.  And although it is not quite springtime outside, Cath Kidston definitely has a knack for bring spring inside!  Sure does help with beating the winter blues... And Ludmila, at Creamy Life, did a GREAT job of highlighting some of her work!








This week, Apartment Therapy obliged us with a tour of Emily's new apartment.  If you have been following her blog (Cupcakes and Cashmere) over the past few months, you already know that she recently moved into a new apartment and has been in the process of getting it all put together.  Well... now we get to see what she's done!

 And Cupcakes Take the Cake introduce us to Sookie, who apparently loves cupcakes!  That's my kind of dog!



Last but not least, if you are in the mood for some weekend shopping, allow me to recommend The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy!  She has a wonderful Etsy shop that is at worth a look! 

Have a happy weekend!

My Own Little World

In the same way that it is inappropriate for teachers to have favorite students, it is inappropriate for social worker to have favorite clients. But, just as it it next to impossible (I would assume) for teachers to NOT have favorite students, it is next to impossible for social workers to NOT have favorite clients. Well, maybe that isn't fair to say. It is fair, and accurate, to say that THIS social worker definitely has her favorites. And... my least favorites.


I think this is important to acknowledge. These feelings must be recognized so that they can be handled correctly. Otherwise, both positive and negative feelings toward clients will negatively impact the way in which I serve each client. I must own up to the draw I have to certain people and the aversion I have to certain others in order to sensor those feelings.

Now that we have that settled, one of my favorite clients died very recently. I found out nt through a phone call from one of her friends or family members, but through my regular reading of the local obituaries, which made the pill even harder to swallow. Since meeting this client about seven months ago, she has truly touched my heart. She was a wonderful woman with a profoundly interesting story. She loved animals, but especially dogs, as much as I do... times about a million! She also loved history. She enjoyed American history, but she relished her family history. She devoted incredible amounts of time to the study of her geneology. To her, nothing was more important than knowing where you come from. And knowing this should affect the way you live, and the value you put on your own life.

Since I began working in the field, I have invested a lot of time, energy, and heart, into a lot of people. Sometimes, when it is all said and done, I feel like my effots have been wasted. But just as often, I realize that the people I set out to help have truly helped me in return, without even knowing it. Yes, it is cliche, but it is so true that when you help others, you get so much back in return.

Investing seven months of my life into this client was so worth it. And I am honored to have been able to share some of her last days with her.

Bottom line: Opening up our hearts and sharing in the lives of others is worth the dissapointments and frustrations we may encounter along the way! And no matter how much I give, it will always pale in comparisson to what Christ gave to me, and what He continues to give to me each day. 

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27

"Be kind and compassionate to one another; forgiving each other just as I have forgiven you." - Ephesians 4:32

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and  patience." - Colossians 3:12