the comparison game took the joy out of blogging.

Well hey there. It's been months since I've written anything here. I kept making excuses for myself, thinking "well life is just busy right now, I don't have time." And that was sort of true. We moved in kind of a rush, were long distance a few days a week for two months while Drew finished out his job in our old town before starting his new one back in our hometown, and my work schedule was changing and becoming more demanding.
But I'm an early riser. Weekends mean sleeping in for Drew if he's off but getting up early and enjoying a morning of quiet for me. Now he works night shifts and I've got a few hours before bed of just being by myself after I've finished my to-do list for the day.
Yes I've had some health problems show up that knocked my energy levels down pretty darn low for a few weeks. But I write naturally, so energy really wasn't an excuse for not writing.
Here's what it really came down to: I was busy comparing myself to everyone else's success and stage of life and didn't feel like I had anything exciting enough to share and couldn't get over the fact that my life didn't look like I thought it should.
I can't promise I'll be a consistent blogger ever again. I live with OCD and sometimes it really does make it hard to not spiral into comparison on probably a deeper level than people with normal brain chemistry. 
I can promise I'm not going to have sponsorships again. At least not for a long time. And I won't be doing any ad campaigns for any companies. If I'm going to write at all I'm going to write from the heart.
So many posts in blog world these days are promotional. I see new product reviews, posts promoted by other bloggers because they're obligated to because of sponsorships, and superficial writing constantly because numbers and dollars are taking over the blogiverse. Page views, sponsorships, ad campaigns...at some point it stops being genuine. And it stops being exciting or interesting or heartfelt. 
I want to read heartfelt. I want to see the person behind the screen. Is the person behind the screen sometimes really telling their friends about a really great product they just discovered? Absolutely! I do sometimes! But most of my conversations with my friends are about things that happened that we found hilarious or upsetting. They're about what we've been feeling lately. They're about real life.
I don't want to blog if it's just about making a list of how to do this or that or why you should try this new thing I got paid to tell you about. I don't want to share posts that didn't actually make me laugh or inspire me or hit me on a heart level, so why on earth would I ever write those posts? 
I also don't want to blog if it becomes a thing that steals my joy because my life doesn't look like yours, and for some reason I think it's supposed to. For a while it did take my joy. It did leave me wondering what was so wrong with me that I couldn't be ready for the same things someone else was ready for. It made me question whether my life was even worth writing about because it wasn't full of so many new or glamorous or attention getting events as someone else's. 
So I'm not saying I'm fully back or that I'll have a posting schedule or even that I won't someday choose to quit blogging entirely. That's a real possibility someday, maybe even someday soon. 
But once upon a time blogging was fun. It was real. It was enjoyable. It let me write frequently, and I love to write. So I'm semi-returning. When I feel like writing, I'll write. When I feel like sharing, I'll share. But if I feel my joy slipping away in the comparison game or the numbers game or the growth game, I probably will quit. And you know what? That's good. Because anytime something you're doing for fun starts to steal your joy, it's time to leave, at least temporarily.
I'm glad I left for a while. I'm glad I didn't think about numbers. I'm glad I didn't focus on comments or shares or campaigns or anything else I'm seeing take over blogging everywhere. 
Time will tell whether or not I decide to quit blogging for real. For now, though, I'm just going to let myself write when I want about what I want, and not worry for a second about what my blog is "supposed" to look like. Or what my life is "supposed" to look like either.
Comparison game, peace out. Ain't nobody got time for that.

one lovely blog award + seven things you probably don't know about me

My gorgeous on the inside and out friend Cassie over at Sage nominated me for the One Lovely Blog award a couple of weeks ago (and I'm late on the post about it because I was on a 4 day trip for work last week that completely overloaded my brain) and I'm so honored. Hearing that people value work that comes from your soul is so humbling and beautiful.    One of the rules of the award is that in your post about it you must tell seven things about yourself that others probably don't know. SO let's embarrass me on the internet for all to see, shall we?    1 | I used to be an exhibiting artist on Gallery Row in Charleston, SC as a freshman art major, which was a pretty big accomplishment. I specialized in charcoal and oil painting, and my primary subject matter was the human form. I kind of took a hiatus from creating for a long time because I went into arts management and used my creative energy to help other artists learn to be successful in promoting and selling their work. I've got a canvas in my home office right now just waiting for some paint and I think I know what it wants to be now.    2 | I'm 100% convinced God had a moment of sheer insanity when he created feet. They're the absolute worst. Don't ever touch my feet. I will kick you. I once broke the nose of a woman giving me my first ever pedicure...someone (I don't remember who, it happened in Canada) convinced me it would be great and feel amazing and be the exception to my foot rule. NOPE.    3 | I currently have one tattoo (you probably do know that if you're a regular reader) but I have plans for several more. All future ink has to be Husband Approved since he's the one who looks at me and I still want him to think I'm super hot forever. The ones in the "queue" are all approved, and now it's just a matter of saving a little at a time. Ink is expensive.     4 | I'm extremely susceptible to a terrible affliction called The Giggles. Just one little stupid joke can set me off for ten minutes. Not exaggerating. This joke sent me into a severe asthma attack from hysterical laughter: What does coral get stressed about? CURRENT EVENTS!!! I just think it's hilarious because I picture a little cartoon coral reading the newspaper about a change in current and having a full on panic attack. It's so funny.    

5 | I have 153 books in my possession. Which I just found out because I'm supposed to send Madison one book but I can't pick just one and so to distract myself from actually making a decision I counted my books.    6 | I can also memorize what I read very easily. It's not quite an eidetic memory (photographic is a misnomer) but it is very close. I remember every book I've ever read, and still remember most of what I learned in college and can tell you the exact final price of an estimate I very briefly looked at with my dad last Wednesday. $4,932.10. My family says that watching me recall information looks like there's a little Rolodex in my brain I'm flipping through, which is actually pretty close to what's happening in my head. Sometimes I don't realize I'm giving a full on encyclopedia entry about something simple until I'm halfway through it which can be kind of embarrassing if I do it in front of people who aren't expecting it because they don't know me.      7 | I don't leave my house in sweatpants unless I'm doing something that requires being sweaty. Never. I don't understand it. Productivity in what are basically pajamas that make you feel like you can be athletic is just not the same. It actually annoyed me to no end when other people would show up to class like that in college. Put on real clothes. Then put your hair in a ponytail if you're tired. It takes the exact same amount of effort to show those who keep your university running that you are thankful for their work and that you value your time there and the knowledge you're gaining. I also don't work in my pajamas even though I work from home. Same reason. Respect for my job and myself, and an extra boost to my productivity. Even before I became a Christian and was partying pretty hard, no matter what degree hungover I was I still didn't wear sweats to class. It still bothers me that people do this!     Now I'm charged with the very difficult task of nominating 7 others! I love so many blogs and there are too many excellent ones to choose from. Alas, I must choose.

1. Madison, Wetherills Say I Do
2. Rachel, Rachel Rewritten
3. Jenna, Dearest Love
4. Amy, Taking Steps Home
5. Nina, Flowers In My Hair
6. Faith, Life with Mrs G & The Artist
7. Caroline, In Due Time

I wish I could nominate Cassie back but I don't think it works that way. These are just a few of my favorites in blog world. Go read for hours and get nothing done! Actually don't listen to that last bit. It's terrible advice. Read for hours when you don't have things to get done. Be responsible and then read these ladies for forever because I love them!

mondays are for sidebars and friends

I love the community here in Blogland. Getting to "meet" people through blogging, sometimes in real life, sometimes just through their space online, is so rewarding. One of the was I've expanded a little of that community is with sponsorship, and I have been so lucky to have three lovely women hanging out in my sidebar this month. Because I love them so much and I know you will too, I had to dedicate a special post to them, so that you could get a little glimpse into these beauties and go get to know them better by following their blogs and social media!

Martha Kate @ Seasons with the Strattons What are you going to miss most about summer? What are you looking forward to most about fall? I'm definitely going to miss my Summer Iced Coffee addiction, but I'm also looking forward to enjoying warm cups of coffee when it is chilly outside! Bloglovin' // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

Jessica @ Seeking Individuality

What are you going to miss most about summer? What are you looking forward to most about fall?

I will definitely be missing the free time! It's been so nice to have hours and hours to work on my blog, travel a bit, and spend time with friends and family. I'm looking forward to what the fall will bring though! Especially all of the new experiences...I'm heading to college this fall and I'm so excited to meet new people and discover some new things about myself! 

Bloglovin' // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

Sarah @ Seriously, Sarah?

What are you going to miss most about summer? What are you looking forward to most about fall?

I am sad to see easy to wear summer dresses and flip flops go, but I am looking forward to pumpkin-everything and leggings, boots, and sweaters! Oh, and of course, my first wedding anniversary is this fall!

Bloglovin' // Twitter // Facebook // Instagram

Your week will be much better if you start it by going and following these beautiful ladies. I love their blogs and their hearts behind them, and I know you will too.

Now it's your turn. What will you miss most about summer but are most excited for this fall?

PS! Code "summerfriends" is still in effect for 50% off sponsorships! My in-post banner spot is booked through November but there are plenty of spots left on my sidebar for September!

meet rachel of oh simple thoughts

This post was supposed to go live yesterday as it has been written for days but apparently something went wrong and instead of my scheduled posting time it just reverted to a draft. Lame. #fridayfail This month has been my first month offering sponsorships, and guys, it has been the best month. I love love love getting to know other bloggers and helping them to grow. This month, I am so excited to introduce you to Rachel of Oh, Simple Thoughts! This girl has the sweetest love story, the cutest pup, and a major heart for Jesus. In short--I just love her. Get to know her a bit more!

The mission of Oh Simple Thoughts is to encourage women to pursue the gifts the Lord has uniquely given them. To help women discover how to use those unique gifts for the glory of the Lord in their marriages, homes, and in all of life. The goal of Oh Simple Thoughts is to inspire all to "look well to the ways of our household, and to not eat of the bread of idleness" (Prov. 31:27) while creatively proclaiming Jesus in all areas of our life, both big and small.  What is your favorite thing about the place you live? What makes it so special? Well, it is where I went to college so it is packed with memories. It is where I met my best friends, my bridesmaids, my husband...It is where Ben proposed to me, and now is where we will always remember as our first home. It so special for all those reasons.  What is your #1 favorite thing to wear in summer in the South? Maxi dresses, and long flowy skirts. I love how breezy they are and how versatile they can be. I can throw on a loose tee or a chambray on top and tie it at my waist and it creates a totally different look. And they are comfy which is huge to me! 

What is your favorite thing to do in your spare time? Probably crafting...or reading. I love to create with my hands, and Ben does also so we always have building projects going on around our home. But I cannot pass up a great book!  What is your favorite season and why? I think it is Spring. I love watching the world wake up again, and all the new growth. It is perfect weather to enjoy being outside, and I love being outside, so naturally this is my favorite time of the whole year! 

What has been speaking to your heart and faith recently? I think the biggest thing has been to be grateful...to count the Lord's gifts in my life daily, in the mundane and in the exciting. I think I am seeing that I can only truly rest and rejoice in the grace of the Lord when I am naming and receiving the daily gifts he places in my life.  What is your favorite thing about your current stage of life as a newlywed without children yet? The ability to just do...go...be...without hindrances. We cannot wait for the Lord to bless us with children, and hope that he blesses us with many if he sees fit to, but for right now I love this season. I love being able to leave and go get ice cream at midnight, or go out of town on a whim for the weekend...it is a really sweet season that I know will not last forever. 

If you could go on your dream vacation, with an unlimited budget, where would you go, who would go with you, and what would you do? Well I would obviously go with husband, there is no one else I would want to go on an unlimited finances trip with! :) But probably somewhere in Europe. Italy or Spain maybe? Somewhere romantic and beautiful where I can see beautiful people, and eat wonderful food and drink great wine! :) Go visit Rachel and check her out on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram! Plus, follow her on Bloglovin' so you never miss a post, and sign up for her monthly newsletter to get special updates! And a sweet summer bonus: Because summer is going so fast, and I love you guys, I have a special promo for a limited time! ALL sponsorships are 50% off during the rest of July using promocode summerfriends !! Come join my sidebar and let me help you grow!

the best giveaway ever. and another one, because this is my 100th post ever

100 posts, y'all. That's a lot of words, pictures, effort, and fun. And I'm loving it. Something to celebrate for sure. Blogging is a wonderful thing, but it's also a lot of work, and it takes a while to really learn the ropes and figure out what works for you. There are a million ways to go about it, and no two bloggers are precisely alike, which is why finding resources to help get going is really important.

The Influence Network has been such an incredible learning resource for me. Since joining, I've been able to take classes, download old ones, read articles, print out tools, and just develop as a person and blogger. So today, I, along with some wonderful friends, have the best giveaway ever for you...a lifetime membership!

I would not be able to bring this giveaway to you without the help of some amazing bloggers! These ladies all have made this possible so make sure to check them out and show them some love.

Oh Simple Thoughts / Oak & Oats / The Tiny Painter / Heavens to Betsy

Mrs. Robbins Sprinkles / I'm Always Ashley / Sunday Charm / Flowers in my Hair / Sew My Soul Frankly My Dear / Open Spaces / Seasons with the Strattons

Oh, and the lifetime membership includes the following:

10 free classes to take anytime
Open Forums
Weekly Free Resources
Discipleship Groups
Pursuit Groups
One Free Monthly Class
Extra Surprises!!

So this is seriously the way to go, lifetime members receive their money's worth times 1,000 in my opinion! You get so much and the investment is well spent! The giveaway will run for one week, and all entries will be verified so play fair! We will email the winner on how to receive your membership upon the closing of the giveaway! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And...because you have to have some coffee while you take these incredible classes, here's another giveaway for a $35 gift card to Starbucks!

Sew My Soul | Just a little bit Louder | Seriously, Sarah? | Robyn's Nest

the giveaway is run via rafflecopter & will be open for one week. it is open internationally - Robyn will mail the giftcard anywhere! you may enter as much or as little as you like! if you already follow, you are entitled to a free entry! enter using the rafflecopter below & good luck! 



a Rafflecopter giveaway

a tuesday giveaway

Tuesdays are always good days. I got engaged on a Tuesday and got hired for my job on a Tuesday. I just really love Tuesdays. Plus, they aren't Mondays, so it's a lot easier to get up on Tuesday mornings!

This Tuesday is a great one...wanna know why? Because my sweet blog friend turned real life friend Sarah, along with myself and some other great bloggers, is giving away a very special piece of handmade jewelry and an Etsy gift card!




The college friend of Sarah at Seriously, Sarah?, and talented jewelry designer, Natalie, is here to show off her new Etsy shop, Wonderful Whimsical Wire! Along with a few of my friends, we're here to give away an Etsy Giftcard AND jewelry from Natalie's shop!

Seriously, Sarah?//Sew My Soul//The Married Writer

Wonderful Whimsical Wire

Sage the Blog//The Silver Lining//All The Joys

Enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

blogger coffee date

Yesterday I shared that I've hired Rachel to do an overhaul on my blog, which I could not be more excited about. I love reading what is on other blogger's hearts and minds, and I love to write about my own thoughts and desires,so I was thrilled when I discovered that today, she and Madison of Wetherills Say I Do would hosting a blogger coffee date linkup. I'm so happy I discovered Rachel's blog, for so many reasons!

So, if we sat down for coffee together, I would order a tall no water Chai latte with skim milk if we were at Starbucks, or a large house blend with a pump of vanilla at any other coffee shop. You can learn a lot about a shop by their house blend.

We would start with casual conversation, the usual small talk, I would ask you about your work and tell you I am so in love with mine it's not even funny. But alas, I am not very fond of small talk. I enjoy long, deep conversations with my friends, so the small talk would quickly transform to something more.

I would probably have a journal in my purse, because I carry one everywhere just in case. I would pull it out and show you this little hand lettering of a part of 2 Chronicles 20:17 I did last Sunday.

This verse and the story it's found in made a big impact on my faith. Lately I haven't been quite as sure of God's presence as I have been in the past. Lately I have felt like He wasn't there, and I had to control it all. If we were sitting down for coffee, I would tell you that reading this verse was the biggest reassurance He's still on my side.

I would tell you that this week I have gained so much insight into myself. I'm finding my voice in a whole new way. I would tell you I've rediscovered my passion for writing, and that I've realized it's okay that Sew My Soul had to change along with me. I'm seeing some possibilities for my future that make me so excited and nervous at the same time. And my dear, sweet husband is so supportive through it all. Every new realization I've had and every possibility I've been seeing has him so excited for me to. That man is such a blessing. God really outdid himself.

So, friend, what would you tell me if we sat down for coffee? How is your heart? What has you excited and is awakening your soul today?

Grab the button and link up with us!

going home & going through changes

Lately I've been making changes. I've been growing up, getting to know myself better, and creating a home that feels more like mine. Husband and I recently went to my parent's house to dog-sit while they went out of town, and I was surprised to find that their house doesn't feel like home anymore.

Mom's sweet puppy, Cali

I've been putting lots of effort into making our little house feel more like ours, and it wasn't until we returned to it after our weekend away that I realized it had transformed from a sweet house we were leasing for the next two years into my home. When I walked in the door to mom and dad's, that sense of relief and contentment that only comes from going home didn't wash over me. For the first time in my life, I felt like just a visitor. But when we got back to our sweet little house in our sweet little neighborhood, I felt it. The peace of coming home.

My little coffee station {diy mug tutorial here}

Maybe it's because I've redecorated two rooms precisely to our tastes. Drew is represented in our guest bedroom, aka the Man Cave, filled with Gamecock memorabilia. The office looks like me when you see the aqua walls and white furniture filled with books and delicate touches that remind me who I am.

I guess all the weeks of work made a bigger impact than I thought. I'm home here, in my rental with my husband and hound dog. It's ours and we're making it feel like us more all the time. And I find myself at peace here in a way I wasn't sure I ever would. Thanks, God, for putting me where I didn't want to move and helping me find home in an unexpected place.

In addition to growing up and making my house a home, I'm making lots of changes here on the blog. On Tuesday I announced that I'm transitioning to lifestyle blogging and taking the focus away from how-to. I've been thinking about another major step for weeks, and this morning it became official. The blog is getting a makeover by Rachel from Oh Simple Thoughts. I read her blog daily, and love her aesthetic. Even though part of my career involves graphic design, I've found it so frustrating to design for myself. After lots of weighing the options and asking Husband what he thinks, I finally reached out to Rachel, and I cannot wait to see what this wonderful woman does! So excited to have her help!

Does visiting your parents still feel like going home or have you made your own space home? What did you do to create your own space?

why this posting regularly thing hasn't happened

Lately I've been thinking. About me, what makes me tick, what brings me peace, what brings me joy, and how do I find balance in my life between responsibilities and my passions? The thing is, this blog started as a refashioning blog about sewing and how to do it. And lately I haven't stitched a thing. I have a dresser in my office with several pieces ready to go under the knife pinking shears and I just haven't done it. Why?

My little space to write. {print from vallarina creative}

I love to sew. Truly I do. When I do it I have joy and fun and a sense of accomplishment. But my heart hasn't come alive when I write tutorials on sewing like it once did. When I was in college, I loved how-to posts and I loved sharing projects. But life these days hasn't lent itself to how-to. And my heart isn't in how-to anymore.

My place from which to sew, pre-office makeover. Fun fact: this sewing table belonged to Drew's grandmother and his father refinished the top when he was in high school. It's the real deal from the 1920's.

This blog is going to undergo some changes here. There will be the occasional stitchery, and I will be sharing some projects here and there. But I'm not going to be a craft blogger anymore. Lifestyle blogging is what fits me here and now.

Writing is one of my deepest joys. I have journals all over the house. Any time I'm just having a hard day or just not quite myself, my sweet husband asks, "have you written anything in your journals this week?" He knows how I love to see words flow onto a page. He knows I learn myself and my heart more with each entry. He knows my passion. So while I'm not going to be a craft blogger anymore, I am going to keep blogging here.

I've toyed with the idea of building a whole new blog from scratch. I've considered that it might be easier to transition if I create something new. After all, the name of this blog lends itself to crafting immediately. But Sew My Soul means a little more than just crafting. You see, our lives are pieces of thread woven into a tapestry that is all of Creation. It is being stitched, embroidered, developed, and sewn each day. The small piece of the tapestry that is my life is being stitched as well. My soul, so to speak, is in a constant state of being sewn. Thus, Sew My Soul will continue to be my blogging home.

My fantastic mom/bff and I at the event I spent the last six months planning. A little bit of who I am in this picture. No, that's not a real tattoo. We had a body painter who drew inspiration from everyone's colorful outfits.

What does this mean for you, sweet reader? Well, it means you'll see more things like my thoughts on marriage and body image. You'll begin to see things like me joining a linkup with Princess Burlap on sweetness, or with Rachel of Oh Simple Thoughts for coffee dates. You'll see more of my heart here. You'll see more of real life. Sometimes I'll show you a craft or two, but I'm not going to push myself to be pumping them out constantly. When you come here, you'll be getting to know me. This blog is going to be real from now on. Real me, real thoughts, real life, not just a little thing I like to do in my spare time. This isn't to say I don't love craft blogs; it just doesn't fit who I am anymore.


Welcome to the new Sew My Soul. I hope you'll enjoy its fresh start with me.

kaitie lately...

Let me start with...holy {words i try not to use but still pop into my head when really excited/surprised/anxious/in sudden severe pain} my wedding is in two weeks and two days.

Is this real life?

Also the title is because kaitie lately sounded better than kaitlin lately and because my family and my man and my closest friends call me Kaitie basically always. My brother has called me Kaitlin twice ever and both times it was highly upsetting.

Since I'm kind of a homebody with a love for my family and a love for all things handmade and artisan crafted, here's the pergola my father designed and built and younger brother stained for me to get married under.

Heyyy little brother who is actually much bigger than me. Thanks for the stain job!

My family is pretty talented, I must say. If you love timber and are in the home building market (decorator, architect, builder, new homeowner...) you should check out Accent Truss. I'm biased but I have toured many houses in my day and seen many jobsites, and I must say...no one does trusses quite like my parents. Dad has the best eye for timber frames and he and my mom are an excellent partnership.

Here is me telling my amazing hairdresser for pretty much ten years straight because I have trust issues and no one else is allowed to touch my head what I want my wedding hair to look like.

Donna Hathaway. Upstate SC peeps, find her. She's the best at hair. Plus she's gorgeous, hilarious, and happens to be a super cool biker. For real, go get your hair did by her. It's great.

Drew and I are really really good at presents, but we are also really really bad at them. We cannot keep secrets from each other basically at all, and we have the hardest time not accidentally revealing surprises. So obviously we decided that we should just go ahead and open one present each (he had me open 2 because he technically got me a higher quantity of presents within our budget) this week because we won't be together on real Christmas and have to do it early anyways.

Open gift one and....

We got each other the same thing. Each of us has talked about cast iron skillets so much we each decided it would make a great gift for the other! And we were right--we love them.

He also got me a French press! I adore it. I've admired them for ages but never bought myself one because it wasn't a staple and Liz gave me a big regular coffee maker she and Kyle had before they got a Keurig for their wedding. But it's so pretty! And makes the perfect coffee for my pretty mug collection.

I made our stockings this year by buying the $0.98 ones from Wal-Mart (I've only started shopping at WalMart since moving. I still hate it. But it's cheap.) and then embroidering our names on them. I think they're super cute but I think next year I'm going to make some nice ones that have more detail.

I also made my garters. I took basic ones from Hobby Lobby and totally changed them up. In true refashioning form, I had to take old to make this new...

...so I used beads from my mom's wedding dress all over one. The dangling part on the garter I will be keeping was hanging where Mom's bodice met her skirt. I love it. And I took lace from the hem of her dress to my florist to carry in my bouquet on the big day. She's also my matron of honor. Have I mentioned that I love my mom?

So that's life in the world of the soul behind the seams right now. How about you, readers? What's new in your world?

PS--I'm super excited because on Monday we are FINALLY having a last minute engagement photo shoot! Stay tuned for the pics!

PPS--There is a strong chance I'll be somewhat MIA from the blog for a few weeks due to wedding and a honeymoon cruise but I promise I'll be back soon!

twenty three before twenty four

Today just so happens to be my 23rd birthday!

True story I forgot about my birthday like seven times this year. The whole graduate-move-wedding-whole new life thing has had me a little distracted.

In honor of my birthday, I decided to do a birthday list. Many other bloggers I follow have done them and I find them really inspiring, so, here is my list of 23 things to do before I turn 24:

1. Run at least two 5K's.
I hate running so this will be a hard one but I have always wanted to get into the habit.

2. Dedicate myself to living healthy.
I eat very healthy usually and cook healthy meals. My favorite snacks are granola and fruit and yogurt. I've tried to go healthy before but ended up just getting unhealthier. This time is different. I want to be active and eat well. I'm not trying to lose weight--in fact I do not own a scale and have instituted a "No Scales" policy for my home. This isn't about a number. Just about me living a healthy life.

3. Learn what it really means to be a "wife."
I truly believed I would never get married ever. But I am getting married in a month and a half. I am really excited about this one, because this all came about after I had taken a full year of intentional singleness. No dating, no crushes, nothing. I wanted to learn about myself as an individual and grow in my faith. It was honestly the best thing I've ever done for myself. Don't wish away your single years, because they do incredible things for your soul and your purpose in life. My single season is over now and I am really looking forward to becoming a wife and discovering who I am in that role. Me, of course, but singleness changed me a ton, so I am excited to see what changes marriage brings about.

4. Do at least one creative project every week.
I love to create but since last winter I haven't given myself time to do it. I've missed it, so now I am going to prioritize my creative side.

5. Go on a spontaneous trip somewhere I've never been before (with Drew)
The last two summers I've done it with my mom and it's been awesome. Our first was to Portland, Maine which we planned precisely three days before leaving. Last summer we went to Highlands, North Carolina, which we picked three days before again. We spent our trips exploring the towns, going into a few shops, eating from all the local restaurants, and experiencing what the area offered. I love it. I want to do this once a year, at least.

6. Take a legit cooking class.
I LOVE to cook. Seriously. It's one of my favorite things. I want to learn techniques and ingredients and all sorts of things like that to help me hone my craft as a home chef.

7. Join a club, volunteer group, book club, Bible study, or something like it.
We know I'm not social from my story about my almost new friend. I want to push my skills and grow in this area. This is gonna be scary and hard but worth it.

8. Meet other bloggers.
Again like #7 this will be hard and scary but I want to meet people with similar interests, and I think blogging is a great outlet for me and so many others. Maybe this goal can be tied in with #5...?

9. Buy a DSLR.
I adore photography. I love art of any kind (gee, big surprise, only my entire adult life in art galleries would've been no hint at this) and I love the beauty in capturing moments. However, I am notoriously cheap and will not spend large amounts of money if I do not need to. I've wanted a DSLR for ages, for artistic and personal use, and I can't wait to cross this off!!!

10. Learn a little self-love.
I'm always very critical of myself, whether it's my performance in a certain area of life or my appearance. I am quick to note my shortcomings all too often. This year, I want to remember that God did not intend for me to spend life tearing myself down, but to live a life that reflects the beauty of His love. He thought I was worth the ultimate price, so who am I to argue with him? I'm going to get over myself and love myself more.

11. Paint something and enter it into an art show.
I'm a closet artist. I paint and draw but I don't like to display work outside of my home. I had artwork in a gallery on Gallery Row in Charleston for a time, but after that stopped displaying my work. Probably this comes from #10--being too critical. I'm going to not be afraid and I'm going to display my talent.

12. Visit the snow.
I am absolutely and completely obsessed with snow. But every year I have let one thing or another keep me from going to enjoy it. Not this year. We all need to take the time to do things or see things that bring us joy and remind us of the beauty of life, so I am going to see the snow.

13. Learn to ask for what I want/need without apologizing for it.
Sometimes when I state my needs I feel like a terrible selfish person, so I immediately follow up my request with an apology. Why should I feel bad about asking for something important to my well being? I'm not going to feel bad about being human and having needs.

14. Try some sort of crazy new food I would never think to eat ever.
My family loves food (my brother is a bit of a picky eater but likes to eat fo sho) so we are pretty open to new foodie adventures. I've been branching out my taste slowly, but this year I want to eat something totally insane that sounds wildly unappetizing but has the potential to blow my mind. Wonder if Drew will do this with me or just catch it on camera and laugh at me?

15. Watch the news more.
I love to be informed. I wanted to be a journalist for a really long time. Lately I find myself watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer (how did I not watch this show for the last 23 years??) instead of the news, which means I am not as informed as I want to be.

16. Read new things.
I adore reading. I used to get grounded from books because I wasn't social. Like, at all. But I've been repeating my reads lately so I want to get some new ones in--I haven't even found the library in my new town yet...pathetic, I know.

17. Make a quilt.
I just love quilts. That's all there is to say about this one.

18. Play with my dog more.
I love my puppy (who is actually 8 but you wouldn't know it) but we don't play enough. It will be good for both of us.

19. Give to charity.
I work in nonprofit, but I don't make donations. Partly because I work in nonprofit and it's not exactly a lucrative industry. But partly because I make the assumption that annoys the heck out of me when people assume it about my organization--someone else will do it. This really isn't the case usually. Every contribution truly matters.

20. Grow this blog.
I like having a space to write and create and I would love to see it become a space where others come and chat. I love seeing the community in certain blogs...I hope to build that community here soon too.

21. Bake more.
This is just my favorite activity and I don't do it enough.

22. Yoga.
Used to love it and have gotten out of the habit. What better excuse than a birthday to start again?

23. Do things that scare me.
Half of this list are things that make me nervous or uncomfortable. But what better time than in your early twenties to start challenging yourself? I don't want to realize in ten years that I spent 33 years afraid. I'm going to do things that scare me and in ten years look back and say man, I had a great time.

Question for other writers using Blogger! HELP!!!!

*DISCLAIMER: This post has been updated. Most recent information found at end of post.

So. I've tried coding for my grab box at least ten times. I can get the button, and the box, but the code to grab keeps not showing up in the box.

I've done everything!! When I open the gadget, the coding is missing where it is supposed to go in the box.

At the end, after the first half of the box code, the part where the code for the button starting with <a=href......blahblablah> keeps getting deleted.

I've read lots of comments....and it seems lots of blogger users are having the same problem.

This tutorial (which is amazing, by the way--the issue just seems to be a problem with Blogger) is what I used to help build it. But no matter how many times I re-try, the code just disappears from my grab box.

Goodwillista, I see your box works! What did you do to make it go? (PS I love your blog. I check in very often. Also, yes I would shop your closet--I forgot to comment so on your post.)

Help! I'm usually really tech-savvy but this is just stumping me.

Also, I'm beginning a Wordpress blog for work (which is how the grabber coding thing started--my blog is sort of our tester until we get it going). Who uses Wordpress as a platform? Is it worth the cost to be able to customize more? My company is a nonprofit so we have to be careful where we do and do not invest.

Thanks!

UPDATE: This wonderful wonderful page had the code for the second half of my gadget that made the button actually work. I kept the coding from the first tutorial linked above for the half of the code that made the button. The coding for the box came from this website.