First of all, I would like to say a huge-huge thank you to so many of you who have been so encouraging and supportive of me in this blog thing. There have been several of you in the past few weeks who have blessed me in the things I share here, whether verbally, text messages, comments, etc. Thank you. It gives me courage every time. There are days where I can feel really close to quitting…those days where comparison wants to tell me that what I have here is worthless, or where fear tells me it’s too difficult to talk about the personal things, or where lies tell me that everything about this blog is just silly.

I was actually wrestling with this just this morning…questioning whether this blog and writing is a good thing for me or for anyone else…and I felt this inside my soul: God has given me a gift to write, to express thoughts and feelings and battles through words. It is a gift, not of myself, but something from Him. A gift is meant to be used…it’s meant to be used to bless, inspire, and encourage others in the best way that I can.

The same is true for you. Whatever gifts and talents and passions you have been given are meant to be used. We’re all different…some people sing, or create art, or speak, or make food, or play music…all those are gifts. And we’re responsible to be responsible with them. Use them. Cultivate them. Bless your world with them. That’s what they are for.

Ok, so I got a little off track there.

Currently it is freezing here in New York. As in like, I-don’t-want-to-go-anywhere-because-its-so-cold. We had some beautiful and mild days last week that were such a tease, but winter has put itself back in control these days.

Currently I just want to go to this adorable place and sit, eat, and drink for hours. They honestly have the best granola I’ve ever had in my life, and I just want it. Now.

Currently I just feel un-inspired. It’s like the feeling-like-I-just-want-to-veg-out-and-play-games-on-my-iPhone-all-day-type of feeling. I feel tired and….well, tired. I’m not trying to be negative here, just saying’ that there are just those days where nothing creative and awesome and inspired is coming out. And just so you know, I’m really not sitting and playing games on my phone all day, because in all reality that just makes it worse.

Currently I’m struggling with this weird pain in my hip that won’t go away. I did the unfortunate thing and googled my symptoms, which is never a good idea, by the way. According to my findings, I either need surgery or I’m dying or it’s a sciatic nerve that will haunt me for the rest of my life, haha. Ok, maybe not quite, but I find it so amusing how hypochondriac I can become when I starting googling symptoms.

Currently I need to go get lunch made for my handsome husband that will be coming home in a few. Cheers for lunch dates!

What about you: do you have days that you struggle feeling inspired or motivated? What do you do to get out of the slump?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

I’ve recently picked up my camera again, after letting it intimidate me for far too long. I have this problem with not doing something if I can’t do it perfectly or nearly perfectly. Which is why my camera has sat by my desk for six months or more…until I finally realized how silly it is to let something collect dust just because it kicks your bum sometimes. I’m a hands-on-need-someone-to-show-me kind of learner, and cameras are confusing and I still don’t really get what ISO and aperture and all that is, but the point is I never will if I don’t give it a shot.

Here are five shots + chatter to go with them:

one.

I cannot fully live without peanut butter. My favorite is from the 365 brand from Whole Foods, and I always stock up when I’m in South Carolina, or get my mom to bring some with her when she visits. I’ve learned the best way to mix up the separated oil is to empty the jar into a bowl and stir it around in there. Trying to emulsify it in the jar is just disaster, albeit a tasty one!

two. This guy talked me into taking a walk in the snow (as in snow-ing) on Sunday, because as much as I love the winter and the snow, I mostly just like to watch it from the warm indoors. He shot with his weapon (gun) and I shot with mine (camera).

three. My mom-in-law and sister-in-laws and I went out to a British eatery for a tea luncheon a few weeks ago, and it was such a fun time. We had the real-deal tea cups and tea pots imported from England, delicious tea, dainty sandwiches, and tasty pastry selections for dessert. All we needed were some accents and the Queen (or Princess Kate!) yet.

four. I’m about getting ready for spring, but I’m not ready to put my soup pot away yet! Seriously, soups are one of my favorite things to make. I think it’s because it’s one of the few things that is virtually impossible to mess up and you can create something tasty (usually) without following a recipe. This soup started with sauteed onions and carrots and garlic, and ended with some chorizo (so excited to finally find some at a random farmer’s market last Saturday), garbanzo beans, and kale thrown in to finish it off. Mostly it was just all stuff sitting in my fridge that needed to be used up…best way to make a soup, I say!

five. My coffee station is probably one of my favorite spots in the kitchen, especially after being awake for two-plus hours last night because of the insane wind beating against our house! Coffee, coffee, coffee, chocolate, coffee…makes everything better.

Cheers + a merry day to you all.

What about you: what are five things that you have done or enjoyed lately?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!