Walking Through Unavoidable Stress

Hello everyone!

Since our major announcement, that had nothing to do with having children, life has flipped 180 degrees, upside down, crazy! We've left Napa, and are now living with my folks in Stockton. We're living in the apartment on their property, so while we totally have our own space, we haven't really un-boxed anything and won't until we actually move in the middle of August. That means our place looks like an episode of "Hoarders", In fact I have no clue where my Bible currently is. I took it out of a box . I know some of you are already feeling uncomfortable, but you know what, it's life!

Chalk it up to having never really done anything like this before, but I was shocked how I subconsciously want to get to a new normal that I know won't exist for another 6-8 months. It's an inner struggle that has left me very very stressed, and it completely snuck up on me.  I looked at my tired self in the mirror and it hit me, and maybe this is you, but when I'm stressed this is what happens to me:

This is a picture from when we still lived in Napa, but the mess communicates my life right now.

1. I don't sleep at all.
   My brain just won't stop. I'll find sleep randomly if I slow down for a little while, but when it's actually time to sleep I just keep thinking and thinking and thinking. (A white noise app if helpful for this)
2. I eat.
   So much emotional eating happening right now.(That's had turned it's ugly head in the mirror as well, gotta get find that inner peace/ Bible quick and get my butt to the gym!)
3. I shop.
   Obsessively. Retail therapy has always been my go-to. But after a little while everything looks the same, and shopping becomes more depressing than theraputic. Retail therapy is not real therapy. 

So.... I've been praying and reading about what to do and how to survive so my three not so healthy defense mechanisms don't kill me. This is what has worked for me.  Maybe your defense mechanisms are different than mine, but I hope maybe this is can help you if you find yourselves in this crazy state of extreme transition.

1. Read your Bible.
   I have been reading Nathan's. Turns out, it says the SAME EXACT thing. I bought myself a little journal. Starting my day with the Lord, with a cup of coffee, reading and writing a little. This changes everything
2. Tidying up.
   I don't have a ton of control over my surroundings right now. There is not a single thing I can do about the mess of boxes. But I CAN keep the kitchen clear. I CAN clear off the little breakfast nook. I CAN keep the desk in bedroom clear. Focusing on the things that I can do...that's the sweet spot.
3. Make To-Do lists.
   I don't know about you, but when I see a sink full of dishes I just shut down. I get overhwhelmed at the sight, and pretend like its not there. The reality is, if I just tell myself "one dish at a time" it'll take me no time at all, and before I know it, the pile is gone. To-do lists are what tell me that my "dirty-dish pile" life can be done. Just one dish at a time. 
4. Find/Create/Define a creative space.
   Nate and I need creative space. Looking at stacks of boxes has got to be the least inspiring thing in the entire world. My friend Alyssa, from college just wrote this FANTASTIC article for Trouve Magazine about getting back your creativity, and for me, finding or creating a define creative space just spoke to me in a very profound way. For now, it looks like I'll be going to a coffee shop, but I plan on defining a space in our new place in Bakersfield.
5. Find your jam.
   This is my worship playlist. When I need to just be quiet by myself, or actually do the dishes, or box up a million things, or separate my clothes into Goodwill piles, this playlist keeps my focus on the big picture. I'm not doing this more no reason. God is moving Nate and I in a brand new and super exciting an wonderful direction. God is showing himself faithful to us! This playlist reminds me of that.

• Pieces -Amanda Cook
• Out of Hiding -Steffany Gretzinger
• God I Look To You - Jenn Johnson 
• King of my Heart- John and Sara Macmillan
• Place of freedom- Highlands Worship
• Jesus is alive- Fellowship Creative
• Here-Kari Jobe
• Come To The Altar- Elevation Worship
• Make a way- Desperation Band
• Refuge- Parrish 

Well friends, thats about it for me today. Hoping to have some outfit posts and more women in worship soon! Have a fantastic week!

Walking Adventures in Napa

Hello there folks! Hope this glorious weekend treating you well. I'm still in the honeymoon phase of living in Napa, AND I'm on summer vacation, so basically every single day is Saturday for me. I often lose track of the date.  ANWAYS! Nathan and I went on a glorious walking date around downtown, and let me just say; our date was not disappointing. This is what I wore on our little trip. I found this little Free People gem at Freestyle in Roseville, and I've been waiting for the perfect moment.

There's only trees for days everywhere you walk downtown, and it makes for the best walks. Nathan and I often walk to the Oxbow Public Market. Among the other beautiful shops and resaurants in the Oxbow, I
would have to that my favorite one is Three Twins Organic Ice Cream. These pics are from my walk yesterday with friends ho came to visit.



I am a person who gets a "usual." I only ever get the same thing over and over, and I get the Chocolate Peanut Buttercup. It is by far my very favorite, but I will say, I have yet to try a flavor that I didn't like. Oh Three Twins, you genius ice cream sibblings.

Nathan and I also walked into some Vintage shops, and I found some seriously wonderful treasures. This coat was one of my finds at Wildcats Vintage on Coombs.  This shop isnt that huge, but it is packed with tons of beautiful things.

We also walked into Napa Vintage Market, Alice's Antiques. It is so great. I coudln't get over this little camera that I seen afew days ago, and I had to go back for it. I'm pretty sure it still works, I just have to find some film for it. Just look at the color. I coudn't not get it.


Haven't really ventured out into the restaurants  yet. They are a little out of our budget, but you better believe this blog will be giving you the details on how to do Napa on a budget. There's so much you can do, and it is so fun. Anwyas, hope you loved thhis wayyyy-too-long post! See you soon!

Mother of Pearl

Hello everyone!! Two posts in a row! Hope you're having a great Thrusday, I am! I Just found out that idont have to do Jury Duty! Yay! The perks of having just moved three counties away. Anyways, This is what I decided to wear today. It's blaringly obvious that I dont have any of my camera stuff unpacked otehrwise, I would not be using my sorry ol' ipad camera. C'mon Ipad, what the heck! The quality is so bad.

Anyways! I'm really not a fan of the cropped look, I can't do the bare midriff. Even wearing spaghetti straps is a little out of my wheelhouse. It's not because I'm self-consious in my own skin (not any more than anyone would be I suppose), I just dont think all it needs to be showing to look cute. I know it's just my arms and décolletage, but its the principle! 

Can I please comment on the architecture of our new place? This space is actually the entry of our Bedroom. I'm just obsessed with it right now. 

Now, I'm probably dating myself quite a bit right now, but when I was a little girl Sam&Libby wasn't a Target brand. These little bow flats were the shoes of my childhood, so when I saw this on the shelves at Target, I had to have them.

Well folks, there you go! I'm not entirely sure what today has in store for me. I've been eyeing this great vintage shop that is only steps away from my house. There is actually 3 of them all within walking distance from my front door! Oh, Napa.

I'm A Part Of This Now

Hello everyone! It has been over a year since I've posted anything on this little ol' blog, and quite frankly I am ashamed. However! If you are social media savvy, and you are following me on other forms of internet narcissism, you have not been left out of the loop. I am still teaching and doing ministry with my husband and we are loving it. Which does bring me to my next announcement I guess, we have moved! Yes, we are living in Downtown Napa, CA now, and for the 7 days that we have lived here, we love it. I thought I would share a little bit of our new home with you. Please stay around for future posts, as I am wanting to get back into blogging. I've missed this little piece of my life :)

So, the place isn't really finished obviously, but I was so excited about the place I had to share something with you all. 

I really love older homes. Mostly becasue they just have so much more charm and character than newer buuildings. I believe our place was built in the 40's. What made mee want the place from moment I stepped in was this Hutch, and the built-in shelving. They are the perfect places for Nathan and I to put all of our treasures. And because the place is all white, my cerditos, and nate's Marvel collection really add the perfect amount of color

I know it's not a lot to show now, but once the place is really put together, I'll not hesitate to share again. It's Summer! Which means, I am on vacation, and will have plenty of time to blog. In between my new  town adventures of course! If you're familiar with Napa and have a favorite resaraunt, or vintage shop, or coffee place! Let me know! I am in the mood for serious exploration! see you soon!

Good habits are worth being fanatical about

It's that time again everyone. School. And you know what that means: Starbucks. All the time. But let me tell you why, before all you coffee snobs cyber punch me in the face. If it were up to me, I would just brew my own and bring it to school and use the internet there. However, the internet at school is awful and the server doesn't support blogger...or just about any site other than Jessup related sites, so down the street I go. ANYWAYS... school is back in, and I am facing my very last semester. Thats right folks, I'm graduating in May. Adulthood is looming.

ANYWAYS! I no longer am required to go to chapel (thanks old catelogue!), so while everyone is being a good person and worshiping the Lord, I was being vain and taking gratuitous pictures of myself for this blog. And while I know things are about to get super duper busy, I'm gonna take advantage of all this freetime I have.

Well, this is what I decided to wear today. This little trench is so sweet and cutesy, that I can feel myself getting cavities. I love it so much. And even though it's super cold (it's finally winter!), I'm really glad it's kind of light, because that means I can wear it all year long. How cute would this be on an over cast beachy chilly morning over a little dress? I'm in love.

 If you weren't able to tell based on the background of the first picture, the buildings on the inside of Jessu are really beautiful and vibrant colors. I knew exactly where I was going when I was thinking about taking pictures. I've actually taken pictures out here before for this post in front of the yellow dorm.

 I thought my alarm was going to go off plenty early for me to get my 8am class. Well...I was wrong, so I had absolutely no time to do my hair or makeup... so glasses and hats it is!

 How incredible are the print, buttons, and color of this dress? This dress is currently part the pink tag stuff at Freestyle, if you live in Citrus Heights or Sacramento, get yourself over there so you can get one before they all run out!

 How Precious is this classic little coach buddy? When I saw this hanging in Freestyle, I knew it had to be mine. The condition is so beautiful, it looks like no one had ever carried it.

Because it's pretty deep for it's size, it's like this beautiful little leather box. It perfectly fits everything I need to survive

 Keys, Phone, Wallet, Sunglasses, lipgloss, and even my camera squeezes in there! Perfection.

Well everyone, thats about it for me today. Before I go, please take the time to read this article put out by Google. https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/. If you noticed, the google homepage has a censor bar over it. This is because there are two bills being passed around in Washington that are encouraging internet censorship. It will essentially end all creative internet ventures for people like you and me. It's very political and is being funded by special interest groups that dont care at all about the little guy. Please please please do some research on this bill. It is bad news, and it is un-American. If any one of these bills ends up passing, I will not be seeing you soon.