Gratitude

As we get closer to Thanksgiving here in the US, we begin thinking about gratitude and being thankful more often. It's become a popular seasonal topic, but it's really something that we should ponder throughout the rest of the year. My church is doing a series of sermons on gratitude and is challenging us to actively express it in our lives. I thought I'd share a bit of what I'm learning throughout this month as a post series.

Starting off my day by reading scripture in the morning has become part of my daily routine. There are still some days that it doesn't happen first thing and it gets pushed later in the day, but the intention is still there. The reading gets me into a better mindset, adjusting my attitude and actions, and changes the way I interact with others. I am more willing to go out of my way to help others and be more patient. I find this is especially important when it's Monday morning and I'm not feeling very peppy.

Here are a few verses I've been reading that speak about gratitude and thankfulness.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes. 5:16-18

"Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!" Psalm 95:2

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!" Psalm 100:4


Do you have a favorite verse about gratitude or thankfulness?

The Bucket List.

I love making lists- from my daily to-do list to my reading list to my "people I want to photograph someday". You name it, I've probably made a list about it.

Even if you aren't a chronic list-maker, a lot of people have "Bucket" lists, or a list of things you want to do/places you want to go before you die. Back when I first discovered blogs, one of the first bloggers I started following, Susannah, shared her list and I thought it was such a cool thing. After that, I found several others who shared their lists and I love reading them (and still do!).

It inspires me to see the crazy, amazing, once-in-a-lifetime things people want to do. I thought I'd share a few things that are on my list and I'd love to hear about yours, so please share a few of your top items in the comments or share a link if you've got it on your blog.

- Go to (and photograph, of course) Paris
- See the Nutcracker Ballet
- Learn to surf
- Learn to speak french (better)
- Run a 5k
- Read the LOTR books
- Go to a beach in CA
- Complete a 365 photo project
- Own a corgi
- Publish a book
- Take an aerial silks class
- Go to a photography workshop

Like cookies. (my thoughts on coconut oil)

I'm usually late to the party when it comes to popular things like movies, books, music, and whatever is deemed "trendy". Last year I joined the Who-niverse and this year I read the Hunger Games trilogy for the first time, but I still have "listen to the Beatles" on my list. I know, I know, how can I live in this modern age and only know 3 Beatles songs? I do not know.

This summer I kept reading how coconut oil is the alleged cure for everything, from frizzy hair and stubborn eye makeup to clear skin and yellow teeth. Sydney, from the Daybook blog wrote a post a while back and she mentioned how using the oil on her face had cleared up her skin and de-frizzed her hair. I decided to give it a go and picked up a jar of the stuff on my next grocery trip about a month ago.

I've been using it as a hair mask and as a nightly moisturizer and can say the hype is real. From using it on my hair once every week or two I can tell it's been great on my ends and no splits ends have appeared since my last haircut. And it smells fantastic. Like coconut buttery cookies. I would say though I've seen even better results in using it on my face.  After washing my face at night I use it in place of a moisturizer and wake up with clearer skin. The redness around my nose is lessened and the acne marks on my cheeks have been fading faster than when I used a regular moisturizer. Paired with my Clarisonic that I use every other night, my skin is much better and I use a lot less makeup. Cheaper than night cream and more effective? And it makes my face smell like cookies?? Yes please.


*this is not a sponsored post and I don't mean to sound like an infomercial. I just wanted to share my thoughts on the wonder that is coconut oil*

Summer Reads | fiction

One of my favorite summer traditions is making multiple trips to the library. This year, my reading list has been growing very quickly and I've found some new favorites. I won't give a summary of the plots, because those are found easily enough, but I'll tell you why I like them so much.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

I could write a whole post just on this book.

The Young Adult genre usually isn't what I like to read, but I heard really great things about this book and decided to give it a shot. I loved it. Like so much that I went out and bought my own copy (which I don't do unless a book makes an impression on me, as I frequent my public library). The writing is geared towards a younger audience, (14-18ish), but the story is still all there. You feel what the characters feel. Yes, it will make you cry.
Favorite quote: "My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations".

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
Wow.
Starting off, this book was a bit confusing, as you are thrown right into the action. However, this book is fan-tas-tic. The story is set in WWII and is from the perspective of two young women and their involvements in the war. It is exciting and heartbreaking and amazing all at the same time.

13 Little Blue Envelopes by Maureen Johnson
A fun, quick summer read. I didn't really care for the writing style, but the story line was what kept me interested - a spontaneous solo trip around Europe following the instructions from a series of letters from a late aunt.
Two favorite quotes: "Why Paris? Paris needs no reason. Paris is its own reason".
"She was standing in the airport of Copenhagen, staring at a doorway, trying to figure out if it was (a) a bathroom and (b) what kind of bathroom it was. The door merely said H. Was she an H? Was H 'hers'? It could just as easily be 'his'. Or 'Helicopter Room: Not a Bathroom at All' ".


Next on my to-read list:
>Rose Under Fire, the sequel to Code Name Verity. I just started it, but so far it's a good as the first.
>A Million Little Ways by Emily P. Freeman. I've read a ton of fiction lately and decided it was time for a switch. This book's been recommended by a few fellow photographer-artsy-creative types so I'm excited to check it out.

What have you been reading lately? What's next on your must-read list?