Are you tired?

Matthew 11:28-30 (msg)

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me-watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

 Does just reading it reminded you to take a deep breath and be encouraged? It is true of how God, time and time again, has met me in this life journey. I am struggling to see Him right now through what feels like a storm that is unrelenting. A thunderstorm that makes me want to hide, but I know He wants me to come out in the open field throw my hands up and surrender. To allow His cleansing rain to wash over me and wash away the tears that have stained the inside of my eyes. I do not enjoy showing my emotion to the world but this blog has become a sort of therapy for me. 

Have you ever read someones blog and felt their words were what you have been trying to say and what is written in your heart. 

"Today I was reminded of the things that are more important in life. Today I was reminded that what we long for is to be known, to be loved for who we are, not what we can do for someone. We walk in search of it, our hearts crave it, our minds reason and justify for it. We are waiting for it. All the efforts and plans that we lay down are of no replacement for it. But there is peace in simplicity. There is beauty in the release of expectations and embracing the one thing that almost seems too easy or simple to accept. We are the ones that hold the plan that we must achieve or be someone, but God says to simply be. Maybe when we listen to that truth, we will slow down enough to see that what we are searching, pining, longing for, is in front of us…in the present." 

 & 

"I am learning.  I have not arrived, nor do I have life figured out.  I am not balanced.  I waver.  I walk strong and just one breath later, I fall apart.  But I am learning.  I am learning to not take myself so seriously, but instead to trust intentionally in the freedom of walking with the Lord.  So with that, I’m remembering.  

I remember that there was a time when I didn’t recognize God in all areas of my life. He was up there, and I was down here, and the two didn’t exist cohesively together.  I remember making decisions about the Lord with that view and the brokenness that it brought to me.  But I remember when that began to change. God told me He was going to begin an adventure in my life, and He was going to show me how to live, and live free.  So together, our journey began.  

When the winds came, He showed me that the winds weren’t a sign of His displeasure in my life, but to show that when I trust in Him, I can walk through anything.  That nothing would be so powerful as to rip me away from His presence.  And that on the other side of the storm, was renewed strength and confidence in Him.  It is because of the storm that the air that follows is much sweeter. 

He showed me that though I struggle feeling lonely, I am not alone.  That God is not going to one day come and be with me, but that He is with me, presently.  He is my comforter.  He is helping me to learn how to be ok alone with Him.  And because He loves me, I should accept that, and get to know this woman He has created. I am learning that I love simplicity.  I don’t need a lot of things in my life.  I love a good porch, and a great chair to sit on that porch.  I love not having to wake up early, and I don’t really mind if that makes me appear unmotivated in life, because I would rather have a great hour of coffee and reading than rushing into the race of the world.  It can go on without me. 

I remember when I pleaded with God to show me that He would never leave me, because I needed to believe that He was more than the distant God in the sky. I needed to reshape my view of Him, and He has been helping me and is teaching me still.  So, I am learning to walk in this new view of Him, however awkward, and uncertain, and clumsy I feel, I would rather falter to freedom, then stand still and never live.  

I am learning that I have a lot to learn.  I see how far God has brought me, and I can’t even imagine what’s around the corner.  I wait expectantly for the day that I look back even on this writing and see how much more God has taught me.  I am unbalanced, but am embracing that part of balanced living is becoming unbalanced!  How would I ever fully know where the center is unless I’ve fallen to the left or right of it?  God is more than the efforts that I try so desperately to use to win His approval.  He doesn’t need me to feel wrong in order for Him to be right in my life.  He died for my life, for freedom, and the least that I can do is learn how to walk in that freedom." via VanessaFrances@tumblr.com

I do not think that I could stop crying, now on the outside, as I read her beautiful words of how she relates to God, and how God is moving in her life. I completely understand the emotion behind every word she wrote as if I had written it all myself. 

Do You Ever...

Listen to a speaker and feel like God is trying to tell you something? I stayed home today and listened to our church's Listen Live section of the sermon today. The pastor is doing a series on:

Standing near his cross were Jesus’ mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary

Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the follower he loved standing nearby, he said to

his mother, “Dear woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the follower, “Here is your mother.”

From that time on, the follower took her to live in his home. John 19:25-27 (NLT)

It is amazing that in such a little part of the bible that there is so much meaning in what Jesus was doing through His pain. Through everything that is going on at the time of His death the Pain and anguish He is experiencing He makes sure to show us that we need to take care of our own families as well as treat other believers as family.  What was hard to swallow for me was that He is also setting an example that I need to see other peoples pain, even when I am in pain. Jesus sees His mothers and best friend John's pain even through the excruciating pain that he is experiencing at that very moment.  

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. John 16:33 (NLT) I am currently still dealing with being unemployed but if I stop "navel gazing" as Rick puts it. I will be able to see others have deeper and more painful problems. We will experience trials and sorrows, But God has Conquered the World! I definitely need to look around and refocus. Also I learned that I need to Meet others needs even when mine are not met. That is Huge for me. I feel like so much is going on in my life and need are not met, but I am not called to worry about things, I am suppose to give it all to God and focus on helping others. I am writing prayers lately out on my bathroom mirror so that I can be reminded and so that they are real not something I pretend to do. I know that this little phrase of "Is there something I can do to meet someone else's needs today?" will be added to my mirror.

 What about you? Ask God what is He doing and how can you be apart of it. 

My Stylescope

Today I was reading Mandi's blog Vintage Revivals and 

she had this link to take a Stylescope quiz at Home Goods.  

www.homegoods.com/stylescope/

So here is my Stylescope:

Annelise, You Are A GLAMOROUS CLASSIC

You have a refined sensibility with an appreciation for history and tradition in your furniture and your rooms. You value beauty and craftsmanship. You are visually sensitive and understand how symmetry and a balanced layout give order to a room. But you definitely like to shake things up with some unabashed luxury and glamour to keep things from getting boring. You go for rich materials like velvets, one-of-a-kind objects, lady-like touches, glimmering accessories, and a sense of old-Hollywood romance that makes your home dramatic and elegant.
You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

1. Your Design Challenge: ORGANIZEThe front hall sets the mood for your entire home. Consider how to accommodate all the room's functions as beautifully as possible. At the very least you need a console, and if you're short on storage, consider a dresser. Outfit the surface with nice trays and bowls for mail, keys and sunglasses. Keep a trash can for immediately tossing the junk mail. Closet-door or wall hooks encourage coat and bag hanging rather than dumping. If you have children, try to give each a basket in the closet for hats and gloves. It's nice to have a chair or bench for changing shoes, a mirror for last-minute lipstick checks, and a lamp or sconces for warm light.

2. Your Happy PlaceMake this room as comfortable and inviting as possible by bringing in some real furniture like an armchair or a sofa if you have the space. A little lamp on the counter or decorative hanging light can set the mood. Stools are great perches and can easily be moved around. Don't forget to bring your personality and style into this room: hang some art or display a collection of family photos in mixed frames. Consider bold, happy colors in the kitchen as well, like brightly colored pots and pans, big bowls for corralling fruits and vegetables, and trays for spices, oils, teas and pepper mills.

3. Be Party-Ready All the Time!Scent: The first thing you notice about a home is how it smells. Use naturally fragrant cleaning products. If you find a scented candle or fresh potpourri you love, stock up on it. Any scent you like, whether perfume or linen spray, can be used on upholstery, bedding or just spritzed into the air.

Mood: Nice, flattering light makes us feel good. So nix the harsh, direct light from overhead fixtures in favor of the softer glow from floor and table lamps. Also, stock up on some votive candles and a couple of hurricane lanterns for setting around the room.

Food: Devote space in your pantry or on a shelf for go-to party essentials: crackers, dip, chips, nuts—whatever you like to serve. Keep on hand a collection of attractive bowls and cocktail napkins, and you'll be able to set a spread—instantly!

Drink: The simplest and chicest thing is to have a drinks tray or table always set up. Include a mix of pretty glasses, an ice bucket, a lovely pitcher, and bottles of soda and water. When the bell rings, just add ice and limes.

Try it out for yourself. Let me know what your Stylescope is. Have a wonderful day! off to get my second cup of Starbux, homemade of course. ;) 

YOUR BEAUTIFUL

Your Beautiful by Phil Wickham is one of those songs 

that evoke an emotional intimacy with my Creator. 

Just reading the words let alone the music.

I see Your face in every sunrise

The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes

The world awakens in the light of the day

I look up to the sky and say

You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night

Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright

We are amazed in the light of the stars

It’s all proclaiming who You are

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree

You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me

Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne

Soon we will be coming home

You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore

Where death is just a memory and tears are no more

We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring

Your bride will come together and we’ll sing

You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, I see Your face

I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful

SBux... so fondly I call you...

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." - Joe Fox

As if we did not have enough choices already.

I realize that since Stabux is in the name of my blog I might want to eventually write something or several somethings pertaining to the subject. Sorry sounding a little bookish right there. 

I tend to not go a day with out coffee whether it be from the famous Starbux or my home brewed pot. There is something about that first sip of caffeine that sends a wave of contentment through your sensory. 

A sort of Ahh... 

I am actually thinking of painting a small canvas with this exact sediment.

 Maybe I will put them in Simply Touched so that you can have one too!

I love these little blurps on my coffee I always find a way to make it pertain to my day. 

Today was a Venti Coffee Frappacino with  a shot of Raspberry in it.

Go try one its almost a sip of summer. Yum!

My Kitchen

Can you tell I have gotten a much better camera than what the before pictures were taken on.

I still want to paint the cabinet eventually and possibly change the wall color, but the budget does not allow for that at this time. Hmmm, a girl can dream right?

The Boy made this chalkboard for me as one of my Christmas gifts and I love it.

This is my pantry area and door to the laundry room. I would love to have an old door in place of both doors like Holly from Down to Earth Style. Here in CA it is hard to find old and vintage doors. 

My shelf that I got for $1.99 at Buy Right and my letters from Hobby Lobby

I bought basic hooks and attached them to have a place to hang our keys. 

Feel free to ask me any questions. 

Until next time. 

Before Pictures of the House

I figured that it was about time that I posted my before pictures of my house. I have owned it for 3+ years. 

My Entry

Front Room

Opposite side Dining Room

Kitchen

Master Bathroom

Master Bedroom

Back Yard

Obviously Needed some TLC Current pictures to follow.

Solution to containing the Wii acessories

I was able to purchase this two drawer dresser from a family friend recently and give it some much needed love. I did not know that this piece would find a home in my living room but it seemed to fit just right were I needed it and just the amount of storage that i needed near the TV. See the Boys' two kids have tons of Wii games and other stuff that needed a home once they become fixtures in my home. In comes this piece. You can see the top was damage slightly and the two drawers had been stripped. 

Thanks to Kilz primer and 3 coats of white paint. 

I now have a beautiful piece that houses the multitude of games and controllers that the kids have 

and will be accumulating, I am sure. 

See how you cannot even see where the damage was on the top?

The best thing is it is on casters so I can move it and vacuum under it. Love it. 

Before 30 Bucket List

I have not shared with you this list until now, 
not sure why its been written for some time. 

This week it hit me. What exactly am I waiting for? Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger. In fact, 30 is just around the corner ... which makes it just a little over 3 months away! I am thisclose to becoming a bonafide adult, and the allowance for being lackadaisical is getting slimmer by the day. If now's not the time to do everything I've always wanted to do, then when's the right time exactly?

1. fall in love. (I am currently madly in love with someone)
2. see a sunrise in person.
3. be unconditionally loved {not by family}. (The Boy loves me)
4. have a family. (The Boy and the kids have been referred to as my “little family”)
5. slow dance in the rain.
6. have a good new years kiss. (that I did)
7. Experience Vegas
8. Go to a Giants home game {I know I live so close}
9. stay up all night talking with someone. {does this count if you don't talk to that person anymore?}
10. travel more.
11. change someone unintentionally for the better.
12. learn how to cook. {love to but not always good at it}
13. get married.(not quite going to accomplish this one this year but might be in the next year or so)
14. love someone {not family} unconditionally. (The Boy and the kids)
15. spend one weekend being completely carefree and spontaneous. (Easter weekend with the Boy, Krystal, and John)
16. read more. (do blogs count?)
17. be kissed under mistletoe. (Although it was in my parents tree, the Boy and I)
18. experience another culture.
19. let someone see me cry without being ashamed. (I think the Boy sees this more than anyone)
20. inspire someone. (I am told that I inspire my students every time I teach)
21. be taught something significant. (Its OK to let love happen slowly, its not always instantaneous, and many other thought provoking ideas)
22. be involved with a charity.
23. spend an entire day celebrating someone else.
24. spend an entire day away from all technology and not because i have to but because i choose to.
25. Go to the Happiest Place on Earth{Disneyland}with friends.
26. Get down to a single digit size. {almost there thanks Zumba}
27. Be a bridesmaid in a wedding.
28. Go sky diving, ok, indoor skydiving can count.
29. Embark on a romantic getaway.
30. Pose for a professional photographer.
31. Give blood.
32. Go to a shooting range and fire a gun.
33. Splurge on a designer item
34. go to New York or Hawaii

I will try to keep you updated, although 3 months is a short time to get the rest of these done. although my goal is to finish at least 30 that gives me the benefit of the doubt on 4. Until then, Annelise

New Addition

...to my house that is. I have a big new piece of furniture that has been introduced to my family of fun finds. It is a beautiful new china cabinet that my mom was able to find at an estate sale. Pictures were sent via a friends phone and i confirmed it, sight unseen. Thank goodness I trust my mom with knowing if it was going to work with my house.

It took two trips and several helping hands to get it in my house 

and together but it is a wonderful addition to my house. 

 New pics of it set up in my house to come.

Once the china hutch was in with the new table it was apparent that the hutch was going to be too big for that wall, and the table would not be functional with it there. Now to move it. 

But first I had to unload it.

I did not realize how much was actually in it. 

I collect white dishes and apparently several other things.

My boyfriend's first great adventure with me and my furniture obsession was to move the china hutch across the room. Which he made incredibly easy. He moves furniture a lot at work so he showed me how much easier the slider pads make it to move things.

Its so beautiful clean with the lights on, but alas I need to cover the mirror with my new blue paper. There are a couple cracks in the bottom corner mirrors. Here are close pictures of the interior of the china after careful staging and editing down.

I will post pictures of the entire room once it comes completely together and can stay clean for a couple days. Which you would think would be easy. But with a roommate, boyfriend and a two kids can be here any combination of days. So it will happen soon.

Till then, Annelise