Stuff I'm Enjoying
Yesterday marked the three month anniversary of my last blog post. So I guess it's about time.
Recently I've been reading a project by a friend of mine, and I'm so excited to share about it in a few months. But it has made me reflect on my enjoyment of God's good gifts, and my worship of Him through those gifts. So I want to blog a bit about things I'm enjoying right now. And I would love to hear what you're enjoying as well!
Reading
I have really enjoyed this book by Mark and Jan Foreman, parents of Jon and Tim Foreman of the band Switchfoot. It's a sweet, joyful look at raising kids who are creative and confident, and it has encouraged me to change some of the rhythms of my life and my kids' lives in order to encourage more freedom and enjoyment of one another.
What I Learned When My Mother Died
My favorite thing I read on the internet last week was actually written by my dad. I wrote previously about losing two grandmothers in the first weeks of 2016. Here my dad offers some brief reflections on what he learned from his mother's death. These are sweet, encouraging things for anyone who has or will experience a loved one's death (so...everyone).
Listening
For my birthday, my husband bought me Audrey Assad's newest album. I love her thoughtful lyrics, gorgeous voice, and simple arrangements. This album is primarily composed of traditional hymns, including my favorite, "It Is Well." But the song below, "Even Unto Death," is incredible, and it's inspired by Christian martyrs who are being killed daily around the world. Listening with that in mind, it's hard for me to retain composure.
Eating
This is just a little tip I've picked up along the way. I'm a big fan of Aldi, and every few weeks they run a sale on their multi-colored peppers. I LOVE Mexican food, and make fajitas frequently. So I've started stocking up when the peppers go on sale. It takes a little prep, but I bring them home, wash, chop, mix in some onions, and freeze bags of fajita veggie mix. (Pictured here in a bowl that belonged to Erik's Granny, a sweet memory of her love of serving others through cooking)
Wearing
Image from Elegantees.com
I've written about this company before, but it's worth stating again. I love Elegantees. Recently a friend wrote a feature about the company for The Huffington Post, and it's worth reading. I love when people do something that needs to be done, and they do it well. This is Elegantees. Their shirts are an incredible quality. I have four, and I wear them all the time. They're thick, don't pill, and are super flattering. The gal, Binita, whose picture is in the article, has made all four of my shirts. I love that so much. I'm learning to pass on three cheap shirts in order to buy one that is well-made and that supports women coming out of terrible situations.
Right there is a great sale on my very favorite shirt, the KILEE (it's what I'm wearing in the pic at the top of this page). It runs a little big, so you might want to size down unless you have broad shoulders. But I wear it at least weekly during the cooler months. Use code "SAVE30" to save 30% on this and all other SALE items. Or if you have your eye on something that's not on sale (like the ELEANOR, which I just got and love), you can use code "CATHPARKS" for 10% off.
Watching
My husband and I have loved collaborating on our movie podcast. Our latest episode is on "Foodie Movies," which fits well with the idea of enjoying God's good gifts. One of the films we mentioned is Babette's Feast. If you've never seen it, stop what you're doing, head down to Blockbuster (if only), and rent it. You won't be sorry.
So these are some of the things I'm enjoying right now. What about you? I'd love to make this kind of post a regular habit, because one of my favorite things about the internet is the ability to learn about and discover new ideas, products, books, music, etc. from friends and family. So hit me up in the comments or on social media and let me know what you're enjoying right now!