Showing posts with label miscellaneous. Show all posts
Showing posts with label miscellaneous. Show all posts

Tuesday at 2:05


I'm sitting at Barnes & Noble, going on four hours here.

Tuesdays are my productive day. I check things off my to-do list for most of the afternoon.
(It looks like I'm doing a lot, but really, it's just an effort to avoid the big paper I have to write and the questions swirling around in my mind.)

For a while, last year mostly, I had a ritual when I'd come here. I would walk around with my backpack weighing on my shoulders, wandering and collecting books that looked interesting. I'd stack them high and carry them to a table, but never opening them until I'd done at least three school things, and then I'd take a study break and flip through the pages.
They were never heavy books. I'd read a chapter or two, look at pages about photography or writing. I'd catch myself not even focusing on what was on the page, instead letting my mind wander and rest from the daily routine of homework and hard life-things.

Once, I worked my way through a book on dating. I refused to buy it because I came here so often, I might as well just read it when I'm here. I read a chapter each time, and for a season even wrote down answers to the questions in the back. I look back now and laugh. I remember the different people I had in mind at each chapter (there were at least three different guys), and I shake my head. None of that worked out. And I'm okay with that.

But now that routine has changed. It's slowly shifted. Not fully different, yet not the same either. (It resembles the past year in that way.)

Now, I come in at 2:05 pm with my double-shot-dirty-chai-latte that I bought at the Starbucks down the street. (I could've gotten it here, but then I couldn't earn stars. And we all know how vital stars and free drinks are. Also, I don't think I trust baristas at a Barnes & Noble cafe.)
I have a specific chair in between the cookbooks and the medical manuals, where I sit and read until I'm almost finished with my coffee.

Today, I found a book about tacos and it made me really happy.
I also read a book on creativity and spent an embarrassing amount of time trying to get a picture for Instagram.


And then, with a resigned sigh at the last drops of espresso, I move up to the front. I sit at the table by the big window and turn to where I can't really see anyone inside the store.

I start to do homework, but I stop not long after I realized that I don't have half of the things I need to take a quiz or finish a lesson plan.

So instead of working, I watch the outside. I watch the birds fly and the people come in and out.
There's the woman who came in with her son; they sat at the table behind me and he bumped me with his coat, carelessly flinging it over the back of his chair. She told him to apologize, and he did. I smiled.

Several people came and went quickly, in for a book or a magazine. Many people stayed longer. There were two men beside me who seemed to be working on plans for building a house; I learned about the perfect ceiling height. They left, and a while later two women replaced them. A mother and daughter, maybe? I'm not sure. At that point I had my earbuds in and was focused back outside the window at the birds still swirling outside.


My routine here has always been a balance. A balance between work and rest, between reading and writing. It's a balance between seeing information everywhere (books! internet! music! people watching! magazines!) and isolating what brings rest and refreshment. It's where I find balance in myself too; I can enjoy being alone for a while, until friends join me here later.

I've decided that I like Tuesdays. Tuesdays are freeing. They're balanced. They're productive.
I've also decided to stay until my computer or my phone dies, whichever comes first. Unless it's my phone, then I'll probably keep sitting here. (I've delided, again, that it's nice to be disconnected for a little while.)

My dirty chai is long gone, but I'm keeping the reminder of its warmth on my table. The white-and-green logo surrounded by a brown cardboard sleeve is somehow reassuring. I've gotten good at having meaningful and reassuring things around me, I realize: the pencil made of Nepali newspaper, the giant planner that I'm so picky about, the bag that I made for a Christmas gift but then decided to keep for myself.


It's been good. Tuesdays are good.
And all of this doesn't really have a point, I guess, except to say that I'm happy that I've found a routine again. And a chance to write.

And also, you should spend more time at a bookstore, even if it is cliche and it is Barnes & Noble.

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So I Redecorated My Room


January marks the beginning of a new year, a new focus; a month that's full of resolution and change and growth.
In this month of newness, I wrote about how I feel myself growing and changing, learning to press in to the uncomfortable. Over the past few weeks, I've been slowing down and taking the time to refocus. I feel more myself now than I have in a long time, and a major part of that can be seen in my bedroom-- it's an outward reflection of what's been going on internally. It's more me-- simple, intentional, meaningful.

In early high school, I came up with a brilliant idea: decorate my room in black + white, with pops of yellow. It seemed great at the time, but in reality.... just, no. I painted three walls yellow and one wall black. My bedspread was black and white floral, and there were bright yellow florals and photos of high school (read: glory days) everywhere. I loved that black wall especially, but over the years the room became more cluttered and the bright yellow just wasn't me, at all. I joke that it was like living in a giant bumblebee. It really wasn't that bad, probably because of the 30+ picture frames I had covering the walls, but it was time for a change.

I wish I had more photos of my room before this redo, but somehow I forgot to take them? No matter, what's important here is that there's been a beautiful change.

My Christmas present this year was cans of paint & hours of covering these walls with paint + hanging frames and shelves. (Thanks, dad!) And just like that, everything's different. And I never want to leave this room.

Before, there were pictures taped up everywhere. But now? I'm much more intentional. There are watercolors that I bought from a roadside shop in Chitwan, Nepal. There is a canvas from Pokhara, Nepal and prints of Sakina and of a memorable day in Himalayan Java. There are world maps and hand lettered reminders of truth on my walls.

And my favorite-- a canvas painted with the lyrics of Good, Good Father. I came across a canvas like this as I was scrolling Instagram one day, and immediately thought, "now there's painting that I can do." So I did. It was simple, and really great stress relief. (There's a fabulous tutorial here, if you're interested.)

One of my problems this past semester was that I could never, never find jewelry. I had it all in a bowl on my dresser (so awful, I know), so the necklaces stuck together and the earrings never had a pair, and oh-- I own bracelets and rings? So I decided to solve the issue by making a simple jewelry stand out of copper pipe. It's as easy as looking at the picture and copying it-- cutting pipe to whatever length you need it to be (mine stands about 18" tall, with the sides extending 6"-7"), adding caps, and sticking it in a 2x4. It's a grand way to make jewelry both easy to find and pretty to look at.


I'm crazy picky about my desk being clean and uncluttered, so the shelves we hung are a blessing from above. (I know I've only been back in school for two days, but I really am much more motivated to work when my desk is clean and my room is full of natural light.) Also-- my new dresser beside my desk has a filing system in the bottom drawer, and it makes my organized/nerd-heart so, so happy.


See that quote in the frame? My teammate Chloe made that for me on our flight back from KTM, and it's seriously my favorite. She's a brilliant artist. And the Nepal/elephant string art? That was made by my friend Ashley. She's also a wonderful person.
It's so neat to have meaningful artwork and reminders of the beautiful relationships in my life, scattered all around my room.

Most things in this room now have a story behind them. Postcards from 1907 and an iron jewelry hand, found at that antique shop in Tryon. Jhilimili candles from Five14 Guest House in Kathmandu. Painted, markered, and crayoned pictures framed. A mug that I made holding my paintbrushes. Tiny succulents, a photo book of memories. Perfume bottles from my grandma. . . It's so special to be surrounded by meaningful things. They act as a constant reflection of the Father's love and grace all over my life. It's a beautiful thing. Something as simple as a fresh coat of paint and moving around furniture can completely change the feel of an entire room (or, in my case, even a whole life perspective).

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Recipe // Granola

during the last bit of winter break, i was put in charge of cooking for the family (#housewifeprep) . i spent my evenings making cajun chicken soup, black bean pasta, salad, and too many desserts .
but my favorite recipe ? this granola . there's something wonderful about shopping in the bulk section of whole foods, combining and baking ingredients that leave your house smelling heavenly and taste better than you thought granola could taste .

i found this basic formula online and adapted it to what i wanted . i wasn't super picky with measuring ingredients, and it still turned out fabulously . it was one of the easier recipes i made all week, and it's really easy to change & adapt . there are so many variations and techniques out there . over the next few weeks i'll be doing some research and find other things to substitute !

ingredients : 3 cups oats, 2/3 cup nuts, 1/2 cup sunflower seeds, 1/3 cup flax seeds, 1/3 cup chia seeds, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup honey, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp coconut oil, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 egg, 1/2 cup dried fruits


first . preheat oven to 350 degrees .

second . mix the dry ingredients together -- i used 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats, 2/3 cup sliced almonds, 1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds, 1/3 cup golden flax seeds, and 1/3 cup chia seeds .

third . combine the sugars and oils [ 3 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 cup tupelo honey, 1 tsp vanilla, 1/2 tsp coconut oil, 1/4 cup brown sugar ] in a small pot and heat it on the stove until they mix together well. 

forth . put the egg white in a small bowl, stirring it with a fork until it gets frothy, and then pour it into the liquid ingredients. 

fifth . dump the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and combine until the entire bowl is moist .

sixth . line a baking pan with parchment paper and bake for 16-18 minutes . if you want loose granola, take the pan out after 10 minutes and stir the granola around before returning it to the oven for another 6-8 minutes . for chunky granola, just leave it in the pan until it's golden brown and break into chunks once it's cool .
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Around Here: Quiet Evenings in Georgia

it's quiet around here tonight . the family is asleep after a long day of working in the yard, eating grandma's pound cake, and playing endless games . i'm where i've been most of the day : my air mattress in the living room, brainstorming and planning for the new year . i've set goals for almost every area -- health & fitness, academic, social, spiritual, blog goals . it feels good . there's a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that i may not achieve them all, but i won't think of that now . these twelve little goals will only happen one day, one step at a time . they are achievable, i guess . . . . tomorrow we head back home from our grandparent's house and then i'll turn around and head out to new places . guys, this time in life [ being single, independent, and in possession of a small bit of money to burn ] is really the best . i mean, really . when else can we decide to pack up, spend a week in the north without a real plan and know that we'll enjoy every minute . it'll be full of cake, taylor swift's 1989 on repeat [ bring on those dance parties! ], sightseeing, and who knows what else . . . . so tomorrow the whirlwind chaos of life starts right back up, but for now, i'm enjoying this little air mattress and a bit of quiet . it's a breath of fresh air .
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THE ONE WITH ALL THE MEMORIES


today i spent a while organizing and backing up photos on my computer . well, let me rephrase : i spent a few minutes backing everything up and then i spent way too long looking through all the photos and remembering the good gifts of this semester . it's been grace, every moment of it . so i thought i'd share a few of my favorite pictures and memories . . .
i can't tell you how many times i've just gotten in my car and driven to the mountains this semester . it's my way to get alone, listen to worship music, enjoy the view, and de-stress . 

i'm tempted to say that i wish this photo didn't define the first month of my semester, but that isn't entirely true . i'm so thankful for those weeks of sickness . there were days i couldn't get out of bed and even once i appeared to be feeling better, there were lingering headaches and side effects . i was a mess, but Jesus was faithful . he was there, every moment . i grew so much and learned to trust Him more during those weeks of being so sick .

this . this is what i wish happened more : driving to my favorite spot, watching the sunrise or sunset, and writing freely .

oh society soccer games, how i love you . one of my friends played on a team (that won the championship ! WOOT !) and i went to every one of his soccer games . it was one of the best decisions of the semester -- and usually ended in a milkshake run, which is always a party .

friday morning tradition : iced coffee & everything bagel before class .

this book is the most precious thing i own . every girl i counseled this wrote me a note at the end of their week of camp . i put them all together in a notebook, added in photos and ways i can pray for each of them, and it's the greatest . i pray through it often (and find myself missing these girls pretty badly !)

yeah, this is me . sitting in my spot, watching the sky . also, this is my struggle of a van . i'm about to tape a sign to one of the automatic doors that says "DO NOT OPEN THIS DOOR OR YOU WILL BE THE ONE THAT HAS TO SPEND 30 MINUTES TRYING TO FORCE IT TO SHUT." . . . and you think i'm exaggerating . . .

key word : procrastination . listening to music, dance parties, ukulele, writing letters, painting . . . it's all just an effort to avoid studying . i've gotten good at it . too good, probably .

food / milkshake runs & driving with my little brother (we have a playlist called "dance party" that we blast as we drive, and we know every word to every song now) . . it's my favorite tradition i started this semester .

early morning drives to work mean i find gorgeous frost patterns on my window .

i've been incredibly blessed this semester with fantastic people all around me . roommates, girls on my hall, best friends that make the best movie buddies, friends that join in early morning and late night adventures (regardless of what they might have been doing when they got the "MILKSHAKE RUN NOW" text) . Jesus, thank you for this gift of a semester . i'm sad to see it end . . . .
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