the most important moment of your life is this one right now

I never cease to amaze myself with my COMPLETE INABILITY to just exist in the space I am right now. I just had an incredibly productive week, completed the last of my PhD coursework, blogged consistently, spent time with people I love doing things I enjoy, and still...here I am...Friday, cursing myself for not doing more, not being more. I am so consumed with list-making and calendar-writing and planning the future, I am missing out on loving this moment here in the right now.



I guess, ultimately, that's why I blog. It feels like a way of being in the moment.

So here I am. Trying to be more by being here.

How are you today?

love, elizabeth

I Don’t Care That You Don’t Care

Alright, time for another serious relationship question. Kyle and I had this talk in the car the other day. Am I the only one who gets SUPER ANNOYED when their spouse or partner says, “I don’t care”?

“What do you want for dinner?”

“I don’t care.”

“Do you want to go see that movie?”

“I don’t care.”

“Which kind of laundry detergent should I buy?”

“I don’t care.”

And yes, I realize that about 93% of the time you say, “I don’t care,” you actually mean that you don’t care.

Here’s the thing. I DON’T CARE!!! I don’t care that you don’t care. You need to care. I want you to care. When you say you don’t care, I don’t hear “Gee, honey, I don’t really have an opinion either way so since this decision is more important to you, why don’t you go ahead and choose?” I hear, “The outcome of this decision is not worth the effort it takes to land on one side of the fence or the other and so therefore, I abstain from caring.”

And quickly, let’s address the other 7% of the time when you actually do care but tell me you don’t. That’s my move, by the way. I never don’t care. So when you fake don’t care, I can totally tell. This brand of not caring usually comes in the middle of a fight (it doesn’t matter who’s winning). This kind of not-caring is also super hurtful because I know you know that I want you to care.

In conclusion, please care. I care. I want you to care. And if you don’t, if you really, really don’t, if you have to fake it…fake it. If I say, “Do you like the teal or red cardigan better?”, just. freaking. pick. one. (Yes, I know that you know that I know I’m going to pick the one you didn’t. It’s part of my process! Go with it.)

CARING IS SHARING. HAVE YOU LEARNED NOTHING FROM THE CARE STARE??

Alright, thoughts? Does this happen at your house?

love, elizabeth

Tea Party

It’s finals week and that means much caffeine and little sleep (and a whole lot of teeth grinding – my jaw has been popping all day from the stress). But God gives us solace in the little, quiet spaces between things. And this was mine today.

What about you? Had a little moment of solace this week?

love, elizabeth

My Indispensable Summer Beauty Products

I’m not a huge believer in “the indispensable.” I’m pretty sure I could live with very little (and certainly way, way less than I have) if I had to. But in these humid Ohio summers, there are a few beauty products I’m totally thankful for.*

1. Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner.

I’ve talked about this stuff before. Sarah introduced it to me and now I can’t stop raving. It smells great and my skin is soooooooo happy. Since I’ve pretty much sent my foundation packing, this toner has been my best friend.

2. John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease Curl Perfecting Spray.

If you like my hair in this picture, you might also enjoy this fine hair product. It’s kind of a miracle for a girl with wavy, frizzy hair (emphasis on the frizz) like me. If you don’t like my hair, then you might still enjoy this John Frieda concoction. I don’t know. I’m not omniscient.

3. Intuition Plus Razor by Schick.

This is totally my beauty splurge. I realize that we all define “splurge” differently but since the replacement blades for this razor are kind of on the expensive side of the drug store (they actually lock them up now), they’re a splurge in my book. And um…totally worth it. Since I’ve switched from the old-fashioned razor and shaving cream combo, I have completely eliminated razor burn and the 25 minutes of shower time it used to take to achieve it.

4. Women’s One multi-vitamin from Rainbow Light.

A bajillion thanks to Kate for introducing me to the Rainbow Light line of supplements. I have a sensitive stomach when it comes to vitamins but these are whole-food (rather than synthetic) and I can totally take one of these on an empty stomach, no problem. I realize that not everyone is a vitamin person but I’ve noticed a difference in my complexion and energy levels so…I guess I’m a vitamin person.

*This is a totally sponsor-free ad. That’s right. I am just THAT in love with these products.

Alright, share with me. What is on your “indispensable” summer list?

love, elizabeth

PS: Did you get a chance to meet these bloggers? They’re awesome.

Women to Know

Time to meet our wonderful June sponsors!

Ashley at A Recipe for Sanity is my long-time blogging pal and has one of the warmest, most sincere blogs on the web. Ashley writes a lot about positive body image and self-care like in this post and this post. She and her partner Rob also have a fantastic love story. AND even though she’s a busy graduate student working on her degree in counseling, Ashley finds time to cook delicious food and share her recipes on the blog like this one for tostones! You will love her. I promise.

In my totally biased opinion, Sarah over at Sarahcastically is one of the funniest writers in the history of the interwebs. So take that for what it’s worth (a lot). Sarah writes lots of stuff like Captain America, Girl Posts About Girl Things That Girls Like According to Other Girls,  Ice Skating Tips from a One Day Veteran, and The Awkward Revolution: You’re Using This Word Wrong. Want to laugh really hard or think really hard or geek out over hockey and comics and Dr. Who? You need to go be friends with Sarah.

Amy’s blog Delightful Witticisms is new this year and I’m already loving it! Amy writes the way I think she lives –with vigor and vim. That’s right, I just used the word ‘vim’ in a sentence. Amy will be so proud of me. She’s an avid reader and writes hilarious book reviews. She does an awesome feature called Wednesdays are for Writing that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Be sure to check out some of Amy’s great posts like From One Princess to Another and I Did An Adult Thing and be sure to say hi! You’ll be really glad you did.

Courtney at Baxtron {Life} is one of my blogging inspirations. This girl is a social media genius and has taught me so much about networking and connecting with other bloggers! Not only is she a superstar blogger, Courtney is also a hard-working mom and has so much cool stuff to share about that. I especially love her Unscripted posts where she goes deep and really shares her heart with her readers. She recently shared some of her summer reading list on the blog and I’m considering adding to my own. And as a wife, I can so relate to her posts about marriage like this one or this one.

So don’t spend another second here! Go visit these blogs and say hello!

love, elizabeth

Anniversary Picnic

If you didn’t catch the last post full of pictures, today is our sixth wedding anniversary! Kyle has to work today so we’d been racking our brains for a unique and romantic way to spend our morning together. So while Kyle was sleeping, I snuck out to the kitchen and made a big pancake breakfast to pack up in a picnic for the Park of Roses. The park is probably one of our favorite spots in Columbus and June is the month when the hundreds and hundreds of roses finally BLOOM…

Thought you all might like to see some pictures from our picnic breakfast.

love, elizabeth

A Wedding Six Years Ago

I’ve been staring at these pictures this week and carrying them around in my purse. Every time I look through the album, I feel like it’s still my wedding day. I can’t even believe it’s been six years. In honor of the day, I thought I’d share some photos. These were all taken by Jennifer and Rich at Candy Apple Photography. If you live in the Colorado area and are in the market for a photographer, I can’t recommend them enough.

Dad and I before the ceremony

Mama and me pinky-swearing we won’t cry…totally broke THAT promise.

Our vows…

A private moment after the ceremony. More than any picture, this one makes me feel like I’m there.

We got married in downtown Denver in an old converted warehouse/art gallery called the Walnut Foundry. Sadly, it’s no longer a public venue but we were so glad to have it at the time.

If we ever start a band, this will be the cover art for our first album.

I may or may not have accidentally bit Kyle’s finger about five seconds before this picture was taken. Oops?

Dirty Dancing 3: Hot Denver Nights.

Our last dance of the night to this song. Sarah picked it out.

Happy 6th Anniversary, Kyle Surname. I love you at least six times as much as I did then (which is a gosh darn awful lot, in case you were wondering). I think our 7th year is going to be the best one yet.

love, elizabeth