e&m inspired.

As much as I love Nashville and am enjoying my last few months here, I can't help but wish my weekend plans included this:

via http://pinterest.com/pin/5003291/

I suppose some shopping, pool time, antiquing, and homemade pizza will have to do. :)


This week's inspiration...

Jennifer:

Last weekend's trip to the flea market resulted in a vintage suitcase that I hope to be able to use for a table like this.  Can't wait to find a few more to complete the look!

Homemade Mocha Coconut Frappuccino with only 120 calories?  Yes please!

Refreshing summer desserts with fresh fruit make me happy.

Loving these photos, especially since fiance and I want our "first look" to be walking down the aisle. 

Meredith:

Attempting to make these over the weekend for my sister's wedding.

Farmers market and big old historic house...you cant go wrong.

Adorable couple and a sweet little clip to celebrate an anniversary.



Have a happy, sunny, fun-filled weekend!

Jennifer & Meredith

Dreaming in shades of mustard and plum....

As much as I love laying out by the pool, picnics in the park, and frozen yogurt on a hot sunny day, seeing outfits like these make me ready for bonfires, apple picking, and hearing the sound of leaves crunching under my boots.  Fall is my favorite.

via http://elsita.typepad.com/thehiddenseed/2009/11/botas.html

via http://www.zappos.com/frye-paige-tall-riding-cognac-calf-shine

via http://www.flickr.com/photos/discotheque/3308249194/in/set-72157608723345912/

via http://prettylittleworldfashion.blogspot.com/2011/02/best-boots-skirts.html

via http://www.peruvianconnection.com/product/womens+sweaters/820052-san+miguel+pima+boatneck.do?utm_source=GGA&utm_medium=GGA&utm_campaign=GGA

via http://riserise.tumblr.com/post/2313875496

via http://www.flickr.com/photos/darlingdexter/3327572037/

via http://moodboard.typepad.com/my_weblog/2010/10/in-her-closet-anthropologie-finessed-sweaterdress.html

We make pizza.

Fiance and I like to make homemade pizza.  More to come on this...

A Little Getaway

My sister is getting married in September and I'm the (heh hem) matron of honor...it makes me feel matronly. So, I decided to plan a little getaway for my sister and some of her friends. My most favorite part was creating a simple theme and making the invitations. I absolutely adore all kinds of bunting and wanted to try my hand at making some from vintage, patterned and plain solid fabric.

I carried the theme and fabrics through to the favors, which was homemade lotion made by our mom. I originally imagined the lotion in small mason jars, but wasn't able to find any without buying a big box of them. We stayed at Old Summer House Bed & Breakfast and I highly recommend. The place is adorable! And hello homemade breakfast of whatever we (well, actually my sister) wanted! Quiche, fresh fruit and surprise banana crepes. yumm. I also made a bunting and strung it across the main living area and with the b&b's decor, I think it looked perfect.

And there's the lovely bride-to-be!

March of the Penguins...Better late than never!

So, I know I'm a little late to be making a comment about the movie March of the Penguins (okay, let's be real....six years late), but I watched the acclaimed movie last night with dear fiance and his roommate.  I had heard tons of hype after the movie came out about how it was a beautiful story and had a powerful message, so my hopes and expectations were pretty high as we started to watch.  I have to say I was NOT disappointed. 

On the surface, it depicts the nature and beauty of Antarctica in a way that isn't often seen.  But the study of the annual march of the Emperor Penguin was exquisite.  From the choosing of a mate, to the passing of the egg from Mother to Father and the protection of said egg through the harshest of storms and conditions, the story of survival is inspiring.  Mother Penguin goes nearly three months without any food while she carries her egg, and loses the majority of her body weight simply by sustaining the egg.  Once laid, the Mother must skillfully, carefully, and lovingly pass the egg to Father Penguin, who will serve as Protector of the egg for the next four months.  One tiny slip in this delicate pass will expose the egg to the elements and kill it instantly.  After a successful transfer, Mother Penguin begins the 70 mile journey to the sea to find enough food for herself and the Baby Penguin, who will be born in her absense.  Meanwhile, Father Penguin must now begin his four month fast as he carries the egg underneath him as it grows to the point of birth. 

I found the life of these penguins to be completely awe-inspiring.  The way the Mother and Father bond together to protect their young, depriving themselves of rest, food, and comfort to care for their offspring is simply amazing.  The routine and understanding between the Penguin families as they each take on their specific role to nurture each other is so natural and perfect.  Mother and Father are there to serve each other and to protect their young family.  If either one was concerned with their own well being and neglected their role, the family would simply not survive.  It is in serving each other and taking their specific role seriously that they thrive.  What a beautiful and true sentiment! 

As a culture we are so fully concerned with our own needs and desires that it seems un-natural to serve someone else first.  Yet isn't that how God designed us?  In relationships and marriage specifically, I believe that it is in serving one another that your own needs are met.  No one had to teach these penguins that serving each other would lead to survival...it was their instinct.  How much more content would we be if we adapted this same idea in our own lives, and made the needs of our husband or wife more important than our own?  It seems to me this act of selflessness would lead to a greater joy, completion, and fulfillment than we could ever hope to have by being so concerned with "self."

Perspective...

I've been thinking a lot about Romans 7:7-25 this week.

⁷ What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” ⁸ But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. ⁹ Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. ¹⁰ I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. ¹¹ For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

¹³ Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.

¹⁴ We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. ¹⁵ I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. ¹⁶ And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. ¹⁸ For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

²¹ So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

I really feel like I can relate to Paul. So often I find myself in an internal struggle of the mind, knowing I am acting irrationally but going through with it anyway. Verse 15 really resonates with me. I want to have real faith, to live without fear or stress or worry. I want to be kind and patient and hopeful, as 1 Corinthians 13 describes love to be. Yet I fail. Day in and day out I struggle with these things and lose the battle. But, I know God is faithful. It is through Jesus Christ that our faith is even possible! He alone can give us the strength and perspective we need to live a godly life in this sinful world. We have to put our faith in HIM...not in our circumstances, not in the emotions and fears that consume our hearts daily. It is when we put our complete trust in His sovereignty and love that we truly find freedom. As long as we are living and breathing, I don't think we will ever reach a point that we no longer struggle. But I do know that real love is kind and patient. It does not delight in evil and keeps no record of wrong. It always protects, always hopes, and always endures. This is the perfect love offered to us through Christ. It will never fail, no matter how often I might. How thankful and humbled I am at this thought!

It's time to start making this truth my reality...time to start living in true freedom and making the most of the moments I've been given. Only then will I be able to experience the peace and joy I so badly desire.

anotherworldart

My fiance is an artist and he recently wrote a post on his blog (anotherworldart.com) about the beauty found in a simply spider web. I really like his perspective and wish more people would take a moment to stop and notice the beauty in what we deem to be "ordinary."

anotherworldart.com

Inspired....Daily.

This is a blog about inspiration...inspiration found in the everyday, the commonplace, the ordinary. It's about seeing the beauty in what is typically overlooked. It's about finding joy and excitement even when life seems gloomy and gray. It's about creativity, passion, and purpose. It's a place to express the color bursting from within, and for appreciating the moments that make up our life.

We are two ordinary girls who constantly find inspiration around us....through travel, art, photography, film, literature, music, food....we feel there is so much to be seen in the simplest of things, and this is our attempt to capture those moments.