encourage:

via design love fest

encourage:

This has been huge in my life lately - I tend to be really critical. I am  not sure where that comes from.. upbringing?  environment? the way we are born? I think this is really encouraging. I need to be intentional about not being so critical about such little things, things that aren't a big deal. Especially if kids are in our future. I wouldn't want to put that on them - kids are so easily influenced. What do you guys think? Has anyone struggled with this or have any helpful advice on ways you've progressed on being un-critical and letting things go? :)

encourage:

via Emily McDowell

I thought I'd start this week off with a little encouragement. I love this print by Emily McDowell, have you seen her work? She is amazing. Anyway, does this resonate with anyone? I think it's pretty right on. It's so so so easy to see what others have online and just start comparing. It is really dangerous to fall into that too. I know I find myself guilty of this. But we need to keep in mind we only see glimpses of what people choose to post online, we don't know them or what is really going on in the other 95% of their lives we don't see.
I get lost in reality sometimes and I've joked with Nick and some blog friends about how things in blogger's lives sometimes are "staged" just like a movie set or play. I've posted photos of our house but it certainly doesn't look like that 90% of the time! It's staged just right and ever so neatly so you are left to think we live in this lovely place where it's clean all the time when in reality, Nick & I are really messy slobs ;) 
Sometimes I get discouraged about people's houses I see and think, why can't our house be neat like that? I just need to accept the fact that it's not going to happen for us because we are not by nature neat people! and it's okay that the house doesn't look like a picture perfect catalog all the time. it needs to be lived in. But when that feeling of comparing begins to creep in and I allow myself to become discontent with what I've been so abundantly blessed with, that is not good and I know I need to give myself a reality check and pep-talk that I'm being an ungrateful brat. Anyway. I didn't mean to go into it so much but I'd love to hear your thoughts! :) Hope you are encouraged today and have a wonderful week friends.

encourage:

via jet black soul

encourage:

buy a print at unraveled design
sometimes i feel like my attention span is about an inch long. i want to do all these different things and start different businesses. but i think if one can stay interested and focused on just one thing, that one thing would be really successful. what do you think? are you focused?

encourage:

via anamu blog
sometimes i get so caught up in working, i think i forget to just live life and enjoy it. anyone else out there relate? or if you are good at taking time and enjoying life, please share your secrets! :)

encourage:

print available at joykepper


it's hard to love those who wrong you or are mean to you  or have gone behind your back or been cruel to you. but this is so so so true. i have to remind myself this whenever i allow myself to get  bitter or angry or resentful about someone who has wronged me. i feel like i default to be angry and bitter. it's easy to love those who love me back. but hard to love those who don't. but how much more do those people need our love?

encourage:

minna so
this resonates a lot for me. i need to learn the art of letting go. anyone else? :)

encourage:

via sharif khalladi

encourage:

via bless this mess
Yes yes yes, so true.  Why is it so hard to let things go sometimes? Need less over thinking and over analyzing, more letting go ;)

encourage:

via moonlight path
i thought it'd be nice to start a new weekly post with encouragement/inspiring messages and quotes. i know sometimes these quotes and sayings can get cliche and start to loose their meaning but sometimes they really help me get through my day or week, what about you? We offer a lot of positive messages through the products we carry in our shop, i love encouraging people through simple little things like that. and i've always wanted this blog to a place where you can find encouragement. really should have had this kind of post from the start ;)  Today's quote really spoke to me, probably because i find myself doing this quite often. Hope you are encouraged, inspired, comforted, and refreshed through these small posts friends!

Reality:

I know I haven't mentioned anything about Japan, and I didn't want you to think I didn't care. As much as I try to provide inspiration & happy posts throughout the week, in reality there are things happening in the world that go beyond pretty pictures.

The footage is unreal, even the photos above I can't comprehend the magnitude of what is happening in them. 9000+ are missing in just one village. It definitely puts things in perspective for me. This past weekend lives were forever changed while I went to a flea market and spent money and shopped. I don't know: I feel like it's so meaningless when families are worrying, wondering, waiting for news of their loved ones.

There's a lot more going on beyond my day to day and trivial petty issues. Last week we found out Nick's sister is getting a divorce, which is heartbreaking because a family is now torn apart. She's really having a hard time, and her 3 beautiful kids will now grow up without their dad. They're all under age 5, and my heart breaks to think of them as they deal with their lives being forever changed.

So I'm dedicating this post to anyone who is struggling - whatever you're going through: don't loose hope. I tried to find some inspiring images to share with you. Print one out, hang it nearby or set it as your desktop background. I hope you are encouraged today, friend.

source: asuma

source: thresca

source unknown.

source: everything inspiring

source: nameless

The above graphic I added some text, it is inspired by Revelation 21:5. There is such hope to be found in the One who gave His life for us - can you imagine a day when there will be no more tears or sadness or death? I think the verse 4 is so poetic, "He will wipe away all our tears." Wow. I can't wait for the day when this war is over, and He welcomes us home.

Those are just my beliefs, yours may be different. But thanks for letting me be open with you about them.

Regardless of what you believe though, let us continue to pray and encourage those who are hurting, struggling. Let us rally as a community and send support to those in Japan who are lost, scared, needing rescue, needing hope.

Lydia & the girls from Utterly Engaged are holding a bloggers day of silence for Japan, this Friday the 18th. I'll be participating so there will not be a post this Friday. If you'd like to participate as well, that'd be great too. All the details about it, as well as how you can help, can be found here.

But I know there are lots of organizations out there to give aid. Yahoo has a list compiled here. You can also donate via text: text MED to 80888 from any mobile phone to give $10 or text 90999 to donate $10.00 to red cross.

Thanks for reading through this post, friends.

$384 for haiti:

a couple weeks ago, i had a call for comments to simply comment and $1 for haiti relief would be donated. we received 192 comments! then, a very generous and dear friend, pledged to match whatever amount we received. (thanks for having such a big heart, lin) so in total, $384 was donated on behalf of you, friends. (photo via united nations)

i especially love this statement from world vision's website: "though media coverage of the disaster may decline, World Vision's presence in this quake-shattered nation won't."

have a lovely monday dears.

hi friends.
life can get so crazy at times, i feel that way right now.
i just have to remember that everything will be okay.

the daily is on hold this week, i will be posting a
special giveaway tomorrow to celebrate
1000 followers on the blog and on twitter!

sorry for the lack of posts this week.
hope you have a peaceful day.

xo.

new month:

( image credit )

i really love this quote.
don't we so often hold onto things?
i know i do.

it feels like i just posted about august ending!
now september is over.


( image credit )

i love the cozy warm feeling i get from looking
at jessica's beautiful fall collection of dwellings.
the weather is cooling down (slightly)
and it was even windy today!
i love the seasons changing.
it definitely feels more like fall.

happy october, friends.

apologies:

hi friends! i'm sorry i haven't been posting the daily this week! last week sort of burnt me out, but it was an awesome series and thanks to everyone who posted comments - it makes me happy that you enjoyed it.

this week has been okay. 3 people i know lost their jobs last week and then one just yesterday. times are tough and you hear about it on the news, but it is crazy when it starts happening to people you know and love.

beyond that though, i feel like i am needing some inspiration and to just get going! my mind is everywhere thinking and preparing for craft shows this summer and wanting to come up with new designs and art beyond jewelry. i just want to learn and know everything all at the same time. i'm taking a sewing class (we're making skirts next week!) and a flash class at my local community college so hopefully i'll be able to bust out some legit websites very soon. i just wish i could do it now and not have to hassle with the next 7-8 weeks of classes. ;) i must learn patience.

i love this image:

found via this blog.

♥ encouragment one:

so for today, i'm running 3 different posts for all the ones in love, the anti, and the needing encouragement friends. i've been reading some friend's blogs lately about how life has been hard, they've lost a love one or whatever so today can't be the best reminder for them. for some, it may be the once a year in-your-face reminder that you're single.

so the posts are in the following order: encourage, love, + anti. i hope it brings you a little encouragement whatever your situation is today.

♥

encourage.

images found via weheartit.com, loveology, and le love.

♥ encouragment two:

love.

images found via weheartit.com, loveology, and le love.

♥ encouragment three:

anti.

images found via weheartit.com, loveology, and le love.