Box of Chocolates Friday Vol. 8

This weekend I'm attending a Bible study, going out for coffee, visiting old friends and carrying on my pre-holiday jewelry making crusade. There are new pieces covering a designated portion of my work space, lending extra inspiration and encouragement whenever I need it. I can't wait to share them with you! To be honest, the next portion of the process is my least favorite: the photoshoot. I love having beautiful photos of my jewelry, but sometimes getting them can be a long and tedious experiment. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

From the week (and last week):

-Renee Zellweger & Learning to be Happy with How You Look This is a sad, yet fascinating story. I've always thought she was so uniquely beautiful.

-35 Author on Author Put-Downs Perspective is a powerful thing.

-"Putting aside the distractions and lust for the elusive success and putting forward a charge to love others well, to love my family well, and to love myself well." - Leia Bryn (In This Season)

-Sweet Honey and Jalapeno Cornbread Muffins YUM

-20 Quotes from Children's Books Every Adult Should Know

-The Disease of Being Busy This (very liberal) publication got it right.

-What Playing a Musical Instrument Does to Your Brain

-To the Girl Who's Trying I put this on my bookmarks bar so I can quickly find it. I needed it this week.

-I don't particularly like rap (I do like HP), but this...this is impressive:

-This will make you tear up. This paraplegic veteran's buddies rigged up a harness so that his bride could have a surprise dance with him at their wedding:

That's all, folks! Have a happy Friday!

-Song

Inspired to be...Positive: Madison of The Wetherills Say I Do

Hey Everyone! Exciting! Madison of The Wetherills Say I Do is here today to share about a special lady who fought for her positivity. Thank you so much, Madison, for sharing this story with us! For those of you who have never visited The Wetherills Say I Do, it's a very encouraging faith and lifestyle blog where Madison writes about she and her husband's lives, cooking, blogging, designing, and much more. Stop on by after you read today's Inspired story:

When I think back to the person who was most positive in my life, I think of one person. It's not a parent or another family member. In fact, it's someone I didn't get along with at first. But now, she will always be a huge part of my life and who I have become. Her name was Debbie. She was a small group leader for a college group that I was a part of my freshman year in college. At first, we didn't click because I thought I knew what was best, typical 18 year old, right? Over the next six months after we met, we started to build a relationship. She had had cancer before and it was back. But that never stopped her from keeping her eyes on Jesus and moving forward.

 

I've never met someone so positive. No matter what was taken away from her (her strength, her control, her body, her life) she was always positive. There were rough moments where she was completely vulnerable and definitely showed her weakness, although it was never about faking it. But regardless of how she felt or looked, she always kept the "glass half full" mentality. I only knew Deb for a short amount of time, and I will always wish I had had more time with her. We always want more time, don't we? But in my time with her, she became like a second mom to me. She prayed weekly for her "High Point girls" that were a part of our small group. She hosted dinners at her house or took me out to breakfast, even though she couldn't drink coffee for fear of staying up all night, even if she had one cup at 9AM.

I envy her positivity because it's something we can all struggle to find. Something as little as a stained shirt can ruin an entire day, rather than it being a fleeting moment that doesn't affect the outcome of our day. Watching Debbie overcome the mental battle she faced with cancer was inspiring and awing. Here are a few things I think Deb would tell us to do to stay positive: 

• Focus on the good - There will always be rough patches. Focus instead on what is good right now. 

• Focus on what you can control - My dad has this huge lecture he used to give me about what's in your circle of control versus what's outside of it. It's a powerful illustration to realize what you're able to do and what you aren't. There's no use focusing on what you can't control or change because that just causes negative energy. 

• Focus on the eternal - We live in a very perishable world. We focus on material things that ultimately won't go anywhere with us. Instead we should focus on those things that God has given us that will continue with us. We can focus on the negative that nothing will come with us into eternity or we can focus on the positive that God already has so much stored for us in heaven that we don't need anything here. 

The main thing to staying positive is to learn to rely not on yourself, but on Him for your ultimate happiness. That's the end game.

Thanks again for being here today, Madison! This was a very impactful message. :) 

Stay positive, you guys and have a happy Wednesday!

-Song

Thank You, Veteran

I may or may not have posted this video before, but there's no greater time to hear these words than on Veteran's Day. Our country has been chaotic and divided lately and for the last few years, there have been whispers that it's wrong to take pride in America as we know it, that there is much we have to be ashamed of and that our standards have to change. For anyone who believes our country needs to apologize for being what we are, a nation of free men and women, Ronald Reagan has the perfect words:

I'm taking this opportunity to thank veterans of the present and the past for their sacrifice. We are so blessed to have the freedoms that we have and it's because of their sacrifices that we still have them. Sadly, we sometimes take our freedom for granted today and what could be created and built by free people is often overlooked in favor of mediocre, couch potato life. As citizens, there is no greater honor to be paid to the soldiers who protect us than living well and working hard. We are Americans. We should be proud, but we are never entitled. May we all be soldiers who work to protect our way of life not just from being eradicated by an enemy, but from being unappreciated by extremely blessed citizens.

-Song

Grateful Heart

Most of you know this (or maybe you don't), but I live at home with my mom, dad and older sister. We are four adults with our own separate work and separate spaces, but at the end of the day, we share a roof, meals, and responsibilities. This has come with a myriad of challenges, and there have been times when I've had negative feelings about it (being honest), but it's an arrangement that has benefited me tremendously these last couple of years. And for that, I am grateful.

(my family and I many moons ago. weren't we cute?)

I am grateful for parents who are wise and grounded in God's truth who can provide loving council when I need it. And also for a sister I get along with incredibly well. I've never been more grateful for these people than I am today. For the past couple of years, I've found myself approaching the holidays with a sense of sadness at the thought of again spending it in the same place. Over the weekend, I had the realization that I was very happy to have another Christmas with my family. It'll be over sooner than I think.

What are you grateful for today?

This post is linked up with Ember Gray's Grateful Heart Monday.

-Song

(photo via)

Operation Read Your Shelves: Villette

It's time for the next book review in the Operation Read Your Shelves series! It's been awesome having this little project pushing me to read. I love love love reading, but making it a priority is hard.

I just finished this book. I actually contemplated writing the review without entirely finishing it because I wanted this post to go live on Monday. But, I soon realized it was quite impossible to judge Villette without having completed it. Villette could have ended one of many ways, affecting whether or not I loved it. And...I loved it. It kept me guessing the whole way through! I was entirely unprepared for a few of the plot twists, including the ending. That's a nod to Bronte's skill, though, because while I wasn't expecting the story's outcome, I was surprisingly ready for it and it was surprisingly perfect.

To explain the plot just a little: Villette is narrated by the main character, Lucy Snowe, and is about her struggle for independence out of an orphaned childhood and the life she builds amongst strangers in a new country. I would say the core of the story is her desire to belong somewhere and be loved by someone. She consistently finds herself watching everyone else from the outskirts of life and can't seem to make anyone realize how much she wants to be invited in.

Lucy is a refreshing female character who feels the need for love in a very relatable way... Many heroines are either so pious they shame you for feeling anything or they're so dramatic about love, it becomes ridiculous. Lucy Snowe was a heroine I connected with on multiple levels. She's probably one of the most complex characters I've ever read. While she's sensitive, she's also smart, humorous and self-reliant. At several points in the story, she experiences difficult emotional struggles and noted moments of growth.

To give you a taste of the feel of the story, it predominantly takes place in a French town. French is spoken throughout the book, so if you didn't at least take high school French, you might feel a little lost without a dictionary (nothing absolutely critical is spoken in a foreign language, though). There is interesting attention paid to the religious tension between Protestants and Catholics during that time. And, there is a gothic feel due to the spiritual undertones and a haunting (ooooo) similar to that in Jane Eyre.

Of course, being written by Charlotte Bronte, you're probably wondering how Villette compares to Jane Eyre. To be clear, I love Jane Eyre. I've read it multiple times, and it's one of my favorites. But, I enjoyed Villette even more. This was Bronte's last novel and the greater amount of writing experience gained at this point in her life is evident in the intensely rich descriptive passages and dynamic supporting characters. The settings and scenes are more varied and colorful, as well. In my opinion, Lucy simply has more heart and openness than Jane.

I'll say no more. Obviously, I'm in favor of this classic and would encourage you to pick it up and discern for yourself how good a read it is. There's more I would like to say about the love story, but I'd be flirting with spoilers if I did that. :) Let me know in the comments if you've read it and enjoyed the love story as much as I did. Villette is now counted among my favorite books. I hope you get the chance to enjoy it some day.

Have a beautiful Thursday!

-Song


(photo via)

Inspired to be...Positive: Meg of Rivers and Roads

We're back with a new topic for Inspired! This month, we're focusing on Positivity. We'll be hearing from four women who have people in their lives that inspire them to live with joyful attitudes. It should be a blessing for all of us. :)

I'm so excited to introduce you to today's guest: Meg of Rivers and Roads. I began reading Meg's blog back in the spring. She has a very relaxed style that draws you in and makes you want to stay a while, reading about her and her life in Chattanooga (one of my favorite places). Just recently, she has become 1/3 of a new project called Tristyle & Co. Check it and her blog out, and enjoy reading about the special gal who inspires her to be positive... 

When Anna asked who taught me the importance of staying positive, several people came to mind who have influenced me in different seasons of my life. However, the one I kept coming back to is my best friend, Beth. To me, "staying positive" translates into "choosing joy." Beth is one of the most joy-filled individuals I know, and that joy is contagious. 

Beth has a way of listening to and taking in everything you are feeling and then helping you turn those feelings into something positive. She always finds the silver lining, or that one glimmer of hope to hold on to, and she always always always points me back to Jesus.

I'll be the first to admit that joy and positivity does not come easily or even naturally for everyone. We live in a messy and broken world full of pain and confusion and misunderstanding. So how do you stay positive in the midst of all the gloom? 

Several months ago, I felt as if the whole world was weighing on my shoulders, and everything that could go wrong was going wrong, and I was at my breaking point. I was struggling to find even an ounce of happiness in that moment. In talking to my best friend about that week I told her, "I love Jesus so much. Life is just so hard sometimes." Beth is always there to encourage me or just to cry with me when I need it.

So what do you do when the world wears you down? Do you sit there and take the beating? No way, sister. You stand firm and thank the Lord your God for the gifts he has given. The gift to wake up each morning, the gift to glimpse another sunrise, the gift of laughter, the gift of life itself. Every single gift. You name it.

You choose joy. 

"Seriousness is not a fruit of the spirit, but joy is."

I'm not saying you have to be happy all the time. Happiness is not the same thing as joy. Joy is a spiritual discipline, and you must choose it over and over. This world will do all that it can to wear you down. Fight, brave hearts, with all your might, for joy. No matter what you are facing, there is a Gospel and a King worth celebrating. And guess what? That King celebrates over you as well. You are his, and he cares more deeply for you than you will ever know. 

Personally, the key to a positive and joy-filled life is learning the art of celebrating this life we have been so graciously given. The key is giving thanks for each and every gift. The key is knowing you cannot do this on your own. The key is leaning on Jesus to be the song of our hearts and the hope of our souls.  

Thanks so much for being here, Meg! You've graced us with beautiful, positive things to think about.

Have an awesome day, everyone! I'm still recovering from a late night of watching election results. Anyone else? :)

-Song

November Goals

Hey there! Another new month, another opportunity to make goals and mark progress. There's something refreshing and comforting in doing both. And there's something extremely motivating in sharing them with you. :) Here's how I did with October's goals:

1.) Decide on new packaging that incorporates logo. Check!

2.) Have all blog posts finished a week in advance, at least. A few were planned a week in advance but not many. Oh well...

3.) Read two books (Finish Villette & 7 Habits). I'm sharing the Villette review on Thursday, if you're interested.

4.) Bring inventory up to 100 listings on Etsy. I reached 75 pieces made, but they're not all listed yet. 

5.) Write a handwritten letter once a week. 1 handwritten letter was written. That's not really acceptable, is it? 

6.) Conquer laundry like a boss. Laundry was conquered like an intern. It's a stepping stone.

7.) Get in the habit of waking up at 5:30 every morning. (cue laugh track) Didn't happen. Are you surprised? When someone sets a goal expecting to fail, it doesn't usually work.

8.) Each piece I make MUST be something I love. Check!

9.) Finish reading Daniel & the New Testament. Finished Daniel and am working through Hebrews now.

Now for November:

1.) Refine schedule to allot enough time for each work-related & home-related (and just me-related) responsibility (that includes figuring out what wake-up time will get it all done)

2.) Finish 7 Habits & P.G. Wodehouse's Joy Comes in the Morning

3.) Read the remainder of the New Testament

4.) Reach 100 listings by Black Friday!

5.) Prep for local weekend craft fair that runs from mid-November to mid-December

6.) Write a handwritten letter every week.

7.) Make sure local boutique is stocked with my jewelry for the holidays.

8.) Run another giveaway (coming soon)

What are your goals for the month? Feel free to link to them in the comments below.

As I'm transitioning into November, here are a few posts you may have missed from October: 

• 8 Tips On Prepping Your Biz for the Holidays
• Salon Chair Conversations: Blogging Burnout
• Hiding & Acceptance
• Fall Trends

Oh, and get out and vote! :)

-Song

(photo via)