March | 2017
Spring really is my very favorite season in Georgia. Besides the horrendous allergies, it's great to have those warm days, cool nights, and spring life budding more each day. We had a well balanced month in terms of busyness and hang time, and having family visit made it even sweeter!
We've spent the last two years working on the interior of our house, so this year, we're focusing on the outside a little more. Currently we've got a garden box in the making and we'll be hopefully seeding our dirt-patch backyard with grass. It's a really shaded area, but since the backyard is fenced in, we'd like Hondo to be able to have a grassier, less muddy area to be free.
Anyways, scroll down to see what our month looked like.
Below that, you'll find some favorites from around the internet, and my sidebar also has some new additions to my favorite Amazon products, so be sure and explore those too!
Favorite Links
This old YouTube video of a kid's self-talk on his eating habits. Never fails to crack me up.
It may be a couple months in, but I love The Peculiar Treasure's words on respecting those in authority. Honestly, whether this was about Presidential authority or other figures of authority, this is beautifully said.
You had to know my minimalist soul would love this post on stopping those unnecessary shopping habits. Great tips!
Are you following me on Instagram? I'm adding another layer of blond to my hair tomorrow, so stay tuned to my Stories!
How A Dog Has Improved My Life
Almost three months ago, we welcomed a twelve pound ball of fluff into our home. Since then, he's tipped the scales at around forty or so pounds, and continues to steadily grow. Eventually he'll be somewhere around a hundred pounds. He's a little bear of attention-seeking neediness, and his weird antics are constantly cracking us up. These are all things we had foreseen. We knew he'd be big, and sweet, and funny. We'd met many berners before. But it was the things we didn't foresee that have been the greatest blessing and improved our well-being in so many areas of our life. Here's how he's done it...
1. Got us moving
Seems obvious (dogs need exercise) but when everyone in your house has a desk job, and you're mentally exhausted at the end of a day, going on a lousy walk is the last thing you really feel like doing. Especially if it's super cold/hot/buggy/rainy. But rain or shine, we have been up and about significantly more than before playing fetch or walking the trails by our house. Maybe it's only 15-30 minutes here and there, but it's definitely added up. I've found that it's cleared my mind a lot more than zoning out on my phone ever does.
2. Forced us to 'look up'
To continue what I mentioned about not zoning out on our phones as much, he physically stops our tech habits. I'm not kidding. It may just be a puppyism, but EVERY time I'm working on the computer on the couch, or sitting in bed zoning out on my phone, he wiggles his nose all up into my business and makes himself so irritating, I have to set it all aside and rub his belly. Maybe he's needy, or spoiled, but it certainly helps me check my habits. He physically climbs ONTO my computer, so what else am I supposed to do? He's too big to ignore!
3. Made us morning people
Well, mostly Tom. But I am up sometime in the 7 or 8 o'clock hour these days which is about as 'morning person' as I can get. Tom lets him out and feeds him around 7 or 7:30, and when he feels like it, he'll make his way upstairs and sniff me right in the face and wag his tail so hard the tail-wind (no pun intended) gets me up in a jiffy. I'm groggy for a far shorter time than I used to be, and I'll even go outside and play a few rounds of chase in the yard... BEFORE 9AM.
4. Made us better people persons
Tom and I were the social butterflies of our friend groups in college, but when we moved to Georgia, we didn't know anyone and making friends outside of college proved to be difficult and we've become extremely introverted. We're okay with this and recognize that different seasons of life bring out different facets of your personality, but it has definitely been a joy to strike up conversation with anyone and everyone who asks about Hondo.
5. Reignited our adventurous spirits
Tom and I have always had restless natures, but somewhere in the last couple years of home projects and routine, we've forgotten to get out and explore our own territory a little. Now we seek out parks, dog friendly restaurants, trails, dog friendly stores, and more. We even recently bought a tent twice the size of our last one to bring our big guy camping before it gets too hot!
6. Made us happier
I think I've made mention before that this past year has brought with it a season of heartbreak and hardship. Our marriage is strong and nothing compromised there, but it's been a tough time nonetheless. It had begun to feel like more days left us feeling defeated rather than uplifted or content. But at just the right time, everything aligned, and this little puppy came home with us. He has brought outstanding joy to our home and filled even just a little of our hearts that had been feeling empty before. We laugh more, dwell on heartaches less, and cherish this present season with contentedness. Say what you will about dogs just being dogs, but I'll thank God for him anyway because he sure has brought a ray of light to our life.
I know there are so many other improvements he has added to our life, and will continue to add, but this is what I have for now. As I write this, I can hear him licking up crumbs from the kitchen floor that I'd normally have to sweep. So maybe you could add that? He's replaced my need for a broom and cleans my floors. He's very utilitarian.
Hondo is just the best. If I talk about him too much on Joy Lynn or my social media outlets, it's simply because I love him so much.
Do you have a dog? How has he/she improved your life?
How Do You Practice Self Care?
Or better yet, do you practice self-care at all?
Since I started working from home, I've been especially reluctant to "treat myself" or even make time for myself. At first, I wasn't bringing in an income that made me feel like I'd earned it, and I had developed the thinking that one day my time would come and I could "treat myself" then.
As I look back on my time since college graduation, I've noticed a trend in not only sticking so strictly to a budget that I leave no room for myself, but a sense that caring for myself in semi-frivolous ways was just that - frivolous. I had never thought about the emotional and mental implications that putting those "frivolous" needs on the back burner would do.
Just recently, something clicked in me that made me realize how truly important self-care is for all areas of my life. I looked down at my hole-y sweater and 8 year old leggings and thought, "You know what? I think a new pair of leggings - or maybe even a pair of jeans! - would do my raggedy wardrobe some good." Up until that moment, I had been feeling like "hey, I never need to shop because I work from home! I don't have employers to look good for and we can save our moolah for the things we really care about!" But you know what? I care about how I look sometimes, and feeling confident in an up-to-date outfit does wonders for my overall self-esteem. I also started to hem and haw over getting my hair done, when my husband suddenly said, "Joy, I spend more on my haircuts annually than you do. Go get your hair done!" It was kind of a shocking revelation, but it was true! It had been a year since I had my haircut, and even then it seemed like a pampering treatment more than a genuine self-care regimen. I mean, I'm a frugal gal, but when did this extreme begin?!
Whether you're a mom whose priorities lie in the hearts of little people, a new wife who puts her husband first, a poor college student who is focused on reaching that graduation goal and first job, a career minded woman with little time for luxuries, or an entrepreneur barely getting by - self care is for you. All of you. All of us.
What comes to mind when you hear "self care?"
Getting your hair done professionally? Your nails done? A new wardrobe? A day at the spa? Who says self-care has to look a certain way?
Maybe it's an hour alone at the coffee shop. Heck, maybe even an hour alone in your own bathroom to take a longer shower and fix your hair and makeup (for once).
Maybe it's a cup of coffee with the full fat creamer because it tastes extra yummy.
Maybe it's an expensive shampoo/conditioner to splurge on instead of the Suave.
Maybe it's a couple new outfits to help you feel more confident and up with the times.
Maybe it's a fresh set of bed linens and comforter to snuggle into at night.
Maybe it's a few workout videos, gym membership, or new workout gear to care for your body.
Maybe it's a haircut at the fancy salon instead of the Great Clips.
Maybe it's a maid service just this once, so the cleaning isn't on you.
Maybe it's the meal subscription to save you time and help you eat healthier.
Maybe it's a splurge on the shoes, the bag, or the accessory you've been eying but can't seem to justify.
Maybe it's the dinner out with friends you never make the time for.
Maybe it's the time alone to journal or read or have a glass (or bottle) of wine and just be... uninterrupted.
Maybe it's the secret snack you don't want to share with anyone else.
Maybe it's the new underwear because let's be real. You've let those last wayyy too long.
Maybe it's just giving time to yourself.
Self-care, at its core, isn't about selfishness or a something deserved - it's simply caring for yourself. Whatever that looks like! Take care of your body, mind, and spirit. What helps one woman, may not help another, and that's okay. Some women find immense joy and rejuvenation in luxurious goods or services, while others can find an equal amount in quiet-time and a yummy drink at home.
As I've reflected on the last several years and what experiences offer me self-care, I have begun to recognize that even though 'things' don't typically offer my minimalist heart much renewal, those little bits of upkeep do. The haircuts, the little clothing updates, and the glasses of wine. They offer me a re-fresh, a little bounce in my step, motivation, and inspiration.
Do you practice self care? Ask yourself how you think you could benefit from it, and how you can prioritize it!
Minimalist Style | 1
Bear with me, folks. I know I don't share style or beauty related posts very often. This is mostly due to the fact that I've always felt it would be expensive (and I'm thrifty). You know, all the trends, the time, the hair and makeup products, etc...
I have a personality that can easily get caught up in those types of things and fall down a rabbit hole. Note: I may be a minimalist, but it is not without effort in some regards! There are some material things that I never have an interest in owning a lot of, but other material things can become highly addictive for me to start collecting. Clothes are one of them. However, our small bedroom closet has largely kept me from overdoing it there.
That being said, I also don't have a need for a lot of clothes either. I have what I'll call an "accidental capsule" wardrobe. It includes mostly basics, a few semi-trendy items, and lots of neutrals. To keep things feeling fresh, I'm going to challenge myself to mix-up my outfits a little more often and get creative in my closet.
Real quick today, I'm going to share just three different ways to wear a printed dress. All of these ideas are stupid simple, but I tend to always wear this dress alone, so this was actually really mixed up for me!
I realize these outfits are not earth shattering, but since leaving college, I've put very little thought into my outfits. This was fun for me to do, and I think I'll try to share more simple outfit pairings in the coming months!
Is there anything on this topic you'd like to see? How to dress up yoga pants perhaps? haha :)
No, but really. If this is a topic you'd like me to cover more often, let me know in the comments! I wouldn't mind a little extra excuse to hit the mall now and again, and I'd like to feel more confident in my fashion choices and not fall behind the times.
February | 2017
Hey friends! It's been a slower month for blogging around these parts, but I must say... this month has been wonderful. We have been unplugged, outside, and enjoying life with our sweet puppy. We've taken on some small house projects, learned a lot about our camera, and had lots of little daily adventures.
I'm going to document this month and fill you in using pictures, as usual, but with a slightly different layout just for fun. Be sure and scroll all the way to the bottom for my favorite links around the internet this month.
We visited Ponce City Market in ATL
And got stopped every five feet with our four-legged cutie!
We enjoyed some coffee and a nap
And had a few more coffee dates spent working outside
Someone has learned to better tolerate his bathtime routine
And we've discovered his love for swinging!
Our Valentine's was simple and sweet: wine and cheese with a homemade chocolate cake + cream cheese frosting
We used a Christmas giftcard to Amazon to finally get a gooseneck kettle for coffee making methods!
We found the couch of our dreams. It's completely modular!
Spring arrived early
Hondo made 2k+ new friends (no really, check out his Instagram)
We took the most awkward photos together and it was the best
Our dear friends came for a super fast visit and we rocked a progressive dinner - so fun!
I found some great loafers, and Hondo helped me break them in. He's such a great buddy!
chilly mornings have called for cozy fires
Tom found some amazing deals on Fitbits and we had an awesome adventure tracking them down at the select stores!
We also cleaned up our entire backyard and are starting the process of re-landscaping it. It got insanely overgrown and now that we have Hondo, we want it to feel more open and under control. We also switched phone companies (because my dropped calls were getting ridiculous) and had fiber internet installed which has been nice. I also randomly met the owner of a famous little Goldendoodle. Check out his dog on the cover of this book and starring in this music video! Never know who you'll strike up conversation with in Home Depot, huh?!
This month has been spent almost entirely outside and I can't tell you how refreshing it has been. Summers here are brutally humid and I am doing my best to take advantage now and enjoy MY kind of summer right now! Haha.
Links + Favorites
One of my friends told me about this show called Schitt's Creek on Netflix, and though I was skeptical, we've become thoroughly addicted and it's been cracking us up. The characters are so weird!
Another one of my best friends just had a baby boy and I'm all heart eyes over here :)
It's been feeling like time for another haircut (a lob cut), but THIS time I'm also thinking of getting professional coloring too. Here's my inspo board on that topic - what do you think? Should I do it?!
This blog and imagery soothes my soul.
This cover of All I Want is soooo beautiful and I can't stop listening.
I hope you all had a lovely February! I'll see you more this month - promise. And hopefully that includes lots of steps to track on this new Fitbit thingy :) Peace and blessin's friends!
January | 2017
For some reason it feels like this last month was AGES long. Just me??? Needless to say, a LOT happened in January. I apologize for my MIA tendencies lately. I warned you back in November (in this Instagram post) that you may see me more sporadically over the next while due to something we're dealing with in our personal life, and this month has been a busy one in terms of that topic. I am hoping I can be more consistent soon, so keep a look out! Let me dive in and share the scoop from our month.
Life Updates
We finally took our Bernese Mountain Dog home and he's been a complete and utter joy! We love him to pieces, and his sassy ways and dorky puppyisms constantly crack us up. He's gone from 12lbs to 20lbs in the last month and it shows! Also, you can now follow Hondo's rapidly growing Instagram account for pictures and updates. Plus he's already been approached for a sponsorship from a subscription box for pups, so there's fun things to come!
It snowed (iced) in Atlanta! Which is always a little scary because the driving conditions are terrible, but it's always a welcome scene for another otherwise brown winter. The pup definitely loved it the day after arriving in his new home.
Since bringing Hondo home, we've been far more active! He doesn't need a ton of exercise yet since he's little, but we certainly weren't doing a lot of moving before, so that's been incredibly positive. Not to mention the impromptu dates that have come as a result of being out with him!
I was able to freshen up my office with the help of my favorite print shop, Social Print Studio. See the post here if you missed it.
Had a couple hang out seshies with my girls Autumn and Alex!
I got myself locked in one of our bedrooms (they lock from the outside?!) WITH Hondo and I had to have Tom leave work early to come rescue us. It wasn't the first time I locked myself in a room of this house with no way to escape. This time at least I had my phone, but the funny thing is, I had shut the door to keep Hondo from escaping so I could take cute photos like this one... (I think it was worth it).
We started looking into landscaping help for our backyard. We are not very good green thumbs, so the help will be necessary. We can renovate an entire kitchen, but we can't landscape our yard?!
We took Hondo on a hike where we met up with a large group of other area BMD owners and dogs. He suddenly felt very small amongst the big ones! We loved seeing some familiar faces and loving on the big pups.
We had lots of appointments and we kind of gave up on cooking this month and still have no food in our house - haha - on a high note, a Culver's just opened up the road from our house which is AWESOME considering they are few and far between outside of the Midwest!
Lizards have started invading our porch and back yard. I would rather have lizards than insects, so I don't mind, but they are a little creepy.
Favorite Links or Posts
- This awesome paper tablet. We go through so many small sketchbooks for our various doodles and ideas in this house, so seeing this product totally had us geeking out.
- I love this post by Hey There, Chelsie on rocking the hot mess that is your life. It sums up a lot of my January and her tips are honestly really helpful.
- This post by Coming Up Roses on things bloggers are sick of hearing. So much truth!
- This new Ed Sheeran song:
January was busy, exciting, frustrating, sad, and happy all rolled into one. I'm glad to start off February on a positive note (and fewer doctor's appointments!) and am looking forward to the growing number of spring breakers who will be stopping by our home. That's still one of my favorite Georgia perks! How was your January, my friends? What are you looking forward to in February?
What We Didn't Picture
From relatively young ages, we all start to picture our futures. What we want to be when we grow up, what kind of person we'll marry, where we'll live, the places we want to see, the kids we'll have, the house we'll live in, the lifestyle we'll follow, and so on.
In college, that picture of our future starts to come within reach. We study fields we want careers in, maybe we meet our spouses, and the timeline of the next distinctive season of our lives seems to clarify.
I remember spending many a night throughout those fours years with my girlfriends (and even good guy friends) talking about our hopes and fears and expectations of life beyond the brick walls of that cold Wisconsin campus. As in the years prior, they were visions of jobs, spouses, children, places, and impacts we'd make in the lives of others. It was exciting and scary, but I'm still grateful that it was in an environment that urged prayer and devotion with one another.
I'm grateful because those prayers and moments in God's Word together, brought us increasingly closer and have helped each of us along in life's challenges today. A friend recently reminded me of the things we seemed to gloss over in our thoughts as we dreamed of our futures.
Because you see, what we failed to picture in our futures were the heartaches. The hard marriage seasons or divorce, the infertility, the loss of a child, spouse or other loved ones, the miscarriages, the financial burdens, the job layoffs, the loneliness, the anxiety or depression, the hard adjustments, the illnesses, the accidents, or anything else that falls under devastation and heartache. It was in that safe bubble of college dreaming that we visualized the happiness. I wouldn't trade that time or even go back and warn myself and my friends, because it was a place of innocence and joy. I think back on it fondly.
Now, however, the reality of those sweet timelines and plans have begun to set in. We do see the heartache and we have no choice but to face it. It's not all a grim view, of course, but with that picture perfect vision slowly morphing into one with sad seasons, you can't help but mourn the vision you once had.
Yet, it's how we face these challenges that will determine the outcome of our lives. In our marriage, we face trials head-on. We don't sugar-coat, and we lean heavily on the Lord. We see the struggles and sad seasons of our friends and we pray, offer a listening ear, support, and love them. We have learned how little we really know about the trials of those around us, how very little we actually control, and how blind we are to the heartaches.
But when we open up and let the people we love in, we create a safe place of vulnerability and honesty. A place where you hear "me too" or "how can I help you?" A place where you can face reality with the strength of many, instead of baring it alone amidst the everyday routine. A place where active prayer and God's Word are shared to remind you you're never alone and His plan is best... even when it's hard to accept it in the present.
Maybe the fantasized picture of our lives would have been the easiest or most ideal by our standards, but isn't it the hard things that stretch us and teach us and bring us new perspectives and understanding? It's a hard lesson, learning to be grateful for the tough stuff, but it's important.
You learn that even when you feel like you're about to fall apart, you don't. You're stronger than you realize. You learn to be grateful for the seasons of peace and quiet. You learn to value the little things, the little victories, and the people who are most important. The very things we didn't picture are the things that give us purpose and help us relate to others who are stumbling through the same storms. Sometimes it's God's way of bringing people together and teaching us humility, mercy, forgiveness, and grace.
How will you face the challenges you never pictured? Who will you ride out these storms with?
For me, it will be Christ. He is my rock, and he is the rock of my marriage and many of my friendships. I will face the trials I never pictured all those years ago, and take from them new perspectives and a kinder outlook. I'll choose (though I'll fail to do so many times) to trust His plan and be a witness of His grace and love. I'll work to be a shoulder for those who need it, and try to offer the same peace He gives to me.
Our trials can make or break us. What we didn't picture can help us grow, or crush us to pieces. Join me in letting others in, and allowing life's ebbs and flows to strengthen you to become a beacon of hope and solid confidence for those who need it.
And maybe by doing so, we'll see the incredible picture He had in store for us all along. We'll revel in the outcome and be grateful for the journey that got us there. Regardless of reality, I know that I'll spend eternity with Him. Today, I'm thankful for what I didn't picture. Are you?
Letting Go Of Perfectionism
We all have those areas where we need to be stretched. For some maybe they need to find ways to be more confident. For others they need to be stretched and challenged in their work so as not to become complacent. Adding a new baby stretches people, getting married and living with a new person stretches people, and in my current case... adding a puppy to a perfectionist's home stretches me.
I knew months ago that I was going to write this post. Not because it's been four or five days and I'm going to pull my hair out (he's not even shedding and he's been really, a pretty good little pup), but because it's an adjustment for the bubble I've created in our home. A clean, quiet bubble with no dirt clumps or carpet stains or unsavory smells. That's going to change, and I have to change with it.
It doesn't mean letting go of my already cleanly habits entirely, but it means taking things a notch or two down on my perfectionism spectrum. It means making room for messes that are made by a little creature that brings me joy. It's not going to be easy, and for any perfectionist out there, letting go of such habits is a serious challenge. Here are some things I'm going to keep in mind to redefine what "perfect" is to me. Not just in the case of our new puppy, but in my perfectionist nature as a whole.
Remember that God is in the messes too.
Have you heard this phrase? I've heard it several times lately, and the timing has always been just right. It's a simple statement, but think about it. Does God only meet us when our counters are clean and our beds are made? Does He only meet us when clothes are folded or cars are detailed? No. Of course not. His Word is there in the pile of laundry on the living room floor. We can pray for patience amidst the puppy accidents on the rug, and we can do devotions with our loved ones before we say goodnight in a room strewn with shoes, towels, and dirty socks. My house doesn't need to be perfect for God... so why does it need to be such a high standard of perfect at all?
Can your incessant perfectionism make the sweeter things less sweet?
We have a puppy! Of course I'm completely thrilled and overjoyed beyond belief, but does my need to vacuum very crumb off the carpet to keep things "how I like them," take away from this precious puppy-hood? It might. It's easy to justify by calling it upkeep or "for my sanity," but it's just a justification for not being able to let go of my perfectionism. Am I saying I should let my whole house go to rot? No, but the "freak" in my clean-freak nature may need to take a backseat so it doesn't sour the sweet things.
That's just one example though. Think of when you put some of your perfectionist tendencies before your children, spouse, or friends. Maybe you're a perfectionist with your work and it makes you a workaholic with little time to give your family. Before we know it, perfectionism can creep in and ruin even the sweetest things.
I'm not actually in control.
Sometimes I think perfectionism comes from a need to control. In a positive sense, it can give you a feeling of consistency when everything else seems to be out of whack. However, it can also give you a false sense of control. As much as I like to think I keep our home (as an example) in tip-top shape, things will still go awry because that's life. Roofs eventually need re-shingling - no matter how well you care for them, leaks in plumbing can occur, and carpet gets ruined.
Do you sometimes find yourself thinking your actual life plan should go one way and then... it doesn't? No matter how often you "play by the rules" or supposedly do everything right, you're not actually in control. God is. There are no better hands for my life to be in, so why stomp my foot and get upset when it doesn't? God doesn't make mistakes. But we do. Let go of the control and trust.
Leaving room for imperfection, leaves room for grace.
We all need grace. I've talked about it many times on this little space, but the truth is, I'm not always that good at giving grace, even though it's given to me so freely by my Savior. When my husband makes the same annoying (but pithy) mistake over and over, my grace starts to run dry. But with God, graces abounds... so where does mine disappear to? I'm not saying you leave room to purposefully sin, but to realize that mistakes are inevitable, life isn't perfect, and grace can offer so much freedom and practice in forgiveness, that imperfection shouldn't cause fear.
These are just a few things I hope to keep in mind in the coming months as we move forward and our "bubble" changes. Over the last four years, since Tom and I got married, we've experienced all sorts of changes to the plan we had envisioned, but... we've survived 100% of the curves in our path. With our feet firmly rooted in Christ, I know that letting go of perfectionism will undoubtedly yield good fruit. Even if it takes me a long time (which it will), I endeavor to find beauty and rest in the mess.