Everyone needs sweet surprises from their loved one.
Red surprised me friday with the "itinerary" for our weekend. (We have been trying to be intentional with our time together.)
I had just finished getting ready to head to our friends' house ( for the best Mexican food we've ever had...ever)...and Red handed me a sheet of paper to read aloud.
It went something like this:
...3:15 pack for the night
3:50 leave for church
6:15 check into hotel ( I love you!!)...
I was floored. We had mentioned this idea in passing a couple of weeks ago but I had not imagined it actually happening!!
After a great dinner of burgers, fries, and shakes at Baileys' Range (recommended to me by my foodie friend Kara)...
We headed to check in at the Marriott at Union Station in downtown STL...it was wonderful.
A night of relaxation and enjoyment.
The weekend came to perfect closure with a pancake breakfast at Uncle Bill's...Red's favorite.
As many of you may have discovered, Pinterest is addictive.
It places so many ideas, projects, inspirations, thoughts, and sources at your fingertips ---it's overwhelming!! Ok--for me?.. It's exciting.
It has been a perfect tool in dealing with this strong creative streak I've been feeling--but it reaches a point where being exposed to other people's creativity is not enough.
You must act--you must bring value to those hours you have spent browsing Pinterest, stumbling over new organization tips, side-stepping sewing projects, and staring too long at that decadent chocolate cake recipe calling your name....
So yesterday I tackled this issue.
I decided for better or worse, I was going to break out my sewing machine and sew a project I had pinned to some board or another...
Little rice bag hand warmers: heat 'em up in the microwave for 30 secs and then put in your coat pockets for toasty fingers.
There are a few caveats to this project decision you need to know:
1. I'm not a crafty person. Just a creative person.
2. I don't know how to sew.
"What?!" You exclaim...no worries, Youtube and Pinterest really do solve everything--project related.
I found this nifty Youtube video that concisely taught me to thread my machine and how to do a basic stitch:
After figuring out this process--I felt really good about myself. I was preening to myself as if I had become fluent in a foreign language---as I cut more hearts out and prepared myself for further "success"---
Check out my work station:
Here is my first attempt at stitching the heart:
Preening deflated.
I ripped it out and did it again---round 2 was better--
I filled it with rice and completed the heart on the machine.
the funnel is a must.
My entire afternoon was consumed with making 4 hearts total---and I have...hmmm... A LOT more to make as Christmas gets closer.
Finished Product
So--if you receive a gift from me and Red this Christmas--- that seems a little wonky---know that it was made with love.
I'm starting to really appreciate DIY gifts.
Go be creative--even if it is in a realm you have no knowledge in...success (to some degree--even if it's low :o) can be found.
It seems that everyone comes to the crossroads of "What do I want to do with my life?"---and it casts a shadow on all they do--- No matter what they put their time and efforts in--this question colors the experience and expectation.
Perhaps that is where I am standing.
No doubt we all long for value and a sense of self---maybe even fame and affirmation for all we do. I haven't met many people with the goal of not making a difference or perhaps the goal of helping society devolve...
No. It seems that we--specifically this current generation of 20-somethings want more. We want not only to be successful and rich--but to somewhere along the line---make a difference---leave a legacy---to be known.
It's not enough to "just" be a teacher. We want to transform the educational system. It's not enough to "just" be a mom. We want to be a super-mom who happens to own a small business, speak 3 different languages, and volunteer every saturday at the local orphanage---so we can give our children a solid world view. It's not enough to write just because we enjoy writing. We want to be the next Jane Austen or J.K. Rowling.
None of these things are wrong or bad. And it is good (I would argue) to strive to thrive. There is no shame in doing your job well.
But is this perspective of "enough is never enough" realistic and/or healthy? And how is this impacting our lives? Isn't every one exhausted?
I come to this point from my desire to be creative...and my desire to one day be "successful" (a loaded term I know) in a way that glorifies the Lord.
How do you balance contentment with success/improvement?
How does one marry skills and interests to possibilities and opportunities? How do you get paid for doing what you love?---and for that matter, how do you figure out what you really love doing?
Experience. How do you get experience?
Networking.
How do you network for experiences you'd like to have--and how do you expose yourself to people who have the discernment and insight to help you towards a future?
So sort of in the same vein--but in a different direction....
Here is a video from TED--a lovely source of food for thought. One of my grad school professors shared this with us--and it hit me in an interesting way.
It is Elizabeth Gilbert (author of Eat, Pray, Love) discussing creativity. She suggests that a person can not be a genius but rather has an inner genius...though I do not agree with her entire perspective--it is an interesting concept to consider when one is struggling with creativity.
How have you dealt with these issues of career and creativity--or enjoyment? And what are some conclusions you have drawn?
I have a thing for antiques. It is quite a misfortunate thing (though fortunate for Red, I think) that our apartment is too small for most of my cherished finds...It turns out that one couch is quite enough for a room with only 1 full wall...
However, just because I'm in a season of life that dictates what I can or can not buy, does not mean I shouldn't look for stores that inspire my eye for the future.
With this in mind, I share with you Rothschild's Antiques on Euclid---close to the Central West End and, more importantly, across from Pi, St. Louis's best pizza.
Here is a shot of the interior:
Filled to the brim, Rothschild's offers a plethora of high and low antiques. I especially loved the prints in the picture above. Here is a closer shot:
I love botanical prints--their interesting but impersonal---beautiful but a bit sterile at the same time...perhaps clean is a better term.
Rothchild's does an excellent job of setting up vignettes--and making their items come to life...even if they are presented in a way that you would not necessarily use them. For example, they had linens and pillows displayed on an old factory cart:
They seem to offer some locally made new items--ie the pillows as a compliment to their international collection of antiques.
A beautifully manicured store, Rothchild's may be the place you need to visit in order to find that special something that will complete a room. Some things here are bargains, while others are pricey. I suggest going, knowing what you are looking for or go expecting the store to offer inspiration for your own home.
If you are unable to visit the store, check out their website listed below.
It's been quite a while since I have written, so today, in lieu of "Nom Nom Thursday", I am going to share about Red's and my crazy past 2 weeks...
As the universe knows, the World Series was the past 2 weeks and the Cardinals won!!! Red and I were so excited to get to go to a couple of games---this was a huge blessing due to the fact that going to the World Series is extremely expensive. We were so happy to be blessed by friends! Here are some pictures:
We got to sit behind home-plate one of the nights-- It was awesome! Definitely a special way to experience the World Series.
At the end of our second game experience--we had an interesting finale.... A girl comes up to me as I am about to climb into Red's truck and says "Your friend is in the back of your truck, just wanted to let you know." I replied, "You get your friend out of the back of our truck, why is he back there?" She quickly says, "He's not my friend." I find this odd considering she was taking a picture of him in our truck...
Red and I walk back there and this is what we find:
I'm thinking he may have partied too hardy for the night---the Cards didn't even win that game!
Red and some other dude started to drag him out of the truck because he wouldn't respond to gentle shaking---he jumped up and announced that he would be back...he had to go pee. We said, no worries, we won't be here.
The week pressed on--we had Bible studies--dinner dates---and...... costume parties to prepare for!!!
Which brings me to the next exciting chapter of today--Red's and my kickin' Halloween costumes.
We had some trouble coming up with costumes that we both would be comfortable in--and that wouldn't cost an arm and a leg---and this is what we settled on:
Serious, I'll ge you gods
Yes his beard is real.
Who are we, you ask? Poseidon and Amphitrite his wife....or according to an adorable little sorceress at the party--Ariel in human form and her father Triton.
In the midst of all of these social engagements we also had our kitchen remodeled--and this weekend is Red's birthday--It has been a crazy end of the month--but well worth it.
I have some sweet finds to share with you guys--so stay tuned--
I hope this post gave you something to chew on--bahahahaha
