Spring Cleaning

I don’t know about you but it’s like a drug to me. A really spiffy, shiny, well-organized drug. With a great floral print.

Kyle and I try to save condiment jars, especially anything that’s an unusual shape and size. We have a drawer full of recycled jars. They make great vases and organizers!

My new favorite spring smell…the Poppy Sunshine candle from Bath & Body Works.

Over the kitchen sink, the bottle in the middle is an antique passed down to me from my mother. The darker green candlesticks are thrifted and the lighter green candlesticks are made out of old recycled Coca-Cola bottles.

The refrigerator, freshly scrubbed and organized. I tried to make us look healthier by putting vegetables in plain sight. But you can see the salted butter in this picture. We’re not fooling anyone. Looking at a picture of my refrigerator is a good reminder of all the things I have and take for granted. Even the menu plan reminds me that we have more than a huge portion of the world’s population. Wow.

Lucky bamboo shoots…I have no idea how they’re still alive because I keep forgetting to water them.

I decided to pack away most of our knick-knacks for the warmer months…but I left this guy out…he’s full of Carolina sand and driftwood and old wine corks and other things.

I finally got around to making my own magnetic make-up board. I take zero credit for this idea. You’ve probably seen it all over Pinterest. Here’s an example and another one. It’s definitely made it easier to keep my make-up off the bathroom sink.

What about you? Tell me about your spring cleaning projects!

love, elizabeth

The No Make-Up Challenge

I really love make-up. I love to wear it. I love putting it on. But I sometimes find myself troubled by how much I need make-up to feel like myself. Sometimes I don’t like the face underneath. I’ve always been envious of those women who seem to have a natural, unmasked beauty, a radiant and organic glow that says “I just woke up so refreshed this morning. I took a bath in a forest stream and some little birds brought me these uber-flattering yoga pants. I moisturize…with apricot nectar and fairy dew drops.”  I’ve been dying to know…Do I have a natural beauty hidden behind the foundation and eyeliner? Where are my little birds and yoga pants? Where is my radiant glow???

So last week, I gave myself a little challenge – just a chance to try to appreciate my skin and my face, unenhanced by cosmetics. I used an exfoliating face scrub from Bath & Body Works, Thayer's Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (which I only mention because I recently discovered it through Sarah’s blog and it’s awesome), and the generic substitute for Aveeno Daily Moisturizer. One week, no make-up. I took pictures everyday. No touch-ups or editing. The only change I’ve made to any of these pictures is to use auto-levels to better represent natural light. The challenge was to love the face in the mirror sans make-up.

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Day Four

Day Five

Day Six

At the end of the week, I can say I’ve made a new peace with my appearance. This face is flawed. It has blemishes and freckles and unevenness. Maybe this face doesn’t have a place in a magazine or in a movie but it is my face, the one God gave me, a face that is half my mom’s and half my dad’s. It is a map of all the places I have been before, it is a signpost along a journey I am continuing to make. I will look back at these pictures and know what it is to have been there. I have found a comfort in that. I kind of like my face.

I still loving wearing makeup. But I think I’m ready to let my own skin shine through a little more.

I want to hear from you. Is wearing make-up an essential part of your routine? What makes you feel most naturally beautiful? What makes you feel confident as you begin a new day?

love, elizabeth

Company

We spent the first half of this weekend with our best friends, Beth and Zach, who came up from Kentucky to visit us. We haven’t had a chance to see them since the end of the summer and we were so excited to spend some time…

We ended up at one of our favorite spots, B.D.’s Mongolian Grill for lunch…

And Beth let me drag her to the Yellow Sale at Bath & Body Works (I have a problem…I realize).

And while the boys went out and saw Mission Impossible, we painted our nails (I’m a recent fan of J. Crew’s electric pink…) and watched the greatest romance of all time, The Notebook.

Uh, PS: Henceforth, we are replacing the word ‘hot’ with ‘Ryan Gosling.’ As in, ‘Wow, it is so Ryan Gosling outside…we should go to the pool!” or “Dang, you’re looking real Ryan Gosling today. Have you been working out?” or “These chocolate chip cookies just came out of the oven and they’re still pretty Ryan Gosling. Do you want some milk?”

I’ve been a little sad since they left this morning but so, so thankful for the time together.

Bonus of having company? The house is totally clean. How has your weekend been so far?

love, elizabeth

Celebrate Everything

Continuing my commitment to celebrate the little things, here’s my weekly celebration list:

1. A cup of tea with my friend Rosie. We had the loveliest conversation.

2. Losing 3.2 pounds this week.

3. A spontaneous date with my husband. I didn’t even realize how much I was craving his undivided attention and advice.

4. Starting the compilation of my candidacy exam reading list. This may sound silly – celebrating a list I haven’t even finished writing (let alone reading) but this one was weighing on my mind and just getting started makes it seem less scary.

5. The Yellow Sale at Bath and Body Works where stuff in the store is up to 75% off. This is a trivial one but I scored some really happy-scented lotion and some cozy candles. Smell is a big one for me, especially in the winter time. My new favorite? Strawberry Sparkler. (Girls, the travel-size is $1.25 online right now…just saying…)

Well, there we go. Operation: Celebrate Everything continues…

Source: bwcheesecake.tumblr.com via Elizabeth on Pinterest

 

What about you? What are you celebrating this week?

love, elizabeth