Coffee & Honeycomb: April 2013

Good Reads.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

I was always a reader. My earliest memories are sitting on my parents' lap as they read aloud "Junie B. Jones" while my chubby finger traced the words and turned the pages. In daycare, I remember an older girl teaching me with silly picture books during nap time. We pushed our cots extra close and got lost in, "The Stupids," and "Amelia Bedelia" while our peers wet their beds and picked their noses.

My mom and I made weekly trips to the library and I spent hours browsing the book shelves, memorizing every book jacket and summary. Stacks of books came home with me to keep me company for the week. And they followed me everywhere -- in the bath tub, before bed, while tanning, during long car rides, after tests. I usually tried to stick to the recommended lists, but I also allowed trashy reads and was admittedly addicted to anything and everything Mary Kate and Ashley Olson, including the Full House series, and later on, Jodi Picoult. This love and fascination for the world of words carried over to my teen years and my parents always scolded me because my eye sight was getting worse from squinting at small prints.

I haven't been reading as much recently, but with all the down time traveling has provided, I want to start utilizing it with some reading. (: So far, I've read, "The Kite Runner," "Wait for Me," "Work for Hire," "Live by Ear," and re-read, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." Those were all either a free Kindle e-book or lent by a friend. They were all fun but also just easy beach reads, and now I'm willing to spend some monies for more recent or substantial titles.These are some I plan to read next:

I'd love to hear other recommendations! What's your favorite book? Or what book are you currently reading right now?

Just a Pop of Neon.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Some of my favorite trends this season? Cropped tops, delicate jewelry, asymmetrical skirts, and neon accents. I created an outfit incorporating all those trends, and they seem to complement each other very nice. It's an outfit on a budget, too — most pieces you can find from F21 or H&M. Whatever the occasion, poolside or Saturday brunch with girlfriends, this is the perfect ensemble that will keep you cool and stylish.

Tell me about your favorite spring trends!

XO.

Just a Pop of Neon. by jkfacee featuring chandelier earrings

Forever 21 crop top / H&M denim jacket, $38 / Forever 21 / MM6 Maison Martin Margiela flat shoes / BCBGeneration neon handbag / Gorjana / Chandelier earrings / Kate Spade kates spade / Kate Spade kates spade / C. Wonder c wonder

Spring Cleaning.

Monday, April 8, 2013

The month of March was a fun one. Traveled with new friends, caught up with old ones. Visited five different countries. Played in the rain, played in the sun. Got my phone stolen (twice). Watched an English musical, watched Spanish flamenco dancers. Rode a gondola in Venice, rode an ATV in Greece. You know, the usual. (:

Now, it's starting to look a lot like spring around here. Flowers have started to bloom and patches of dirt have been newly replaced with fresh green grass. My favorite part? Looks like flip flops are out for good.

But a change of season means more to me than just pretty nature. Like fresh laundry and new sheets or a clean page in the journal, spring is the opportune time to turn a new leaf in my own personal life. A total spring cleaning.

New priorities, new goals. This month of April, I want to actively start adding healthy habits and good decisions into my daily life. And it will look a bit like this...

Get back to the heart of worship. Recently I heard that what we know about God is, and will be, the most important things about ourselves. That is a very strong claim, but I am an absolute firm believer in it. With all the travels and craziness that consumed my life in the past four months, my pursuit to know my maker fell into the backseat more times than I'd like to admit. But, Jesus has reminded me of his infinite grace and love; and in response, I am shaking the dust off my hands (again) and fixing my eyes back on Him. What will that practically look like? Fill my brain with more truth, less garbage. I would be kidding myself if what I read, what I watched, or what I talked about didn't influence my thought process and eventually, actions. I know alllladat is very closely interlinked. So, I want to start spending more of my free time reading encouragement and truth, reading the word, listening to sermons, and enjoying/pursuing interests the Lord has placed on my heart.

Take care of my body. I never had a healthy eating habit. Most of my meals were consumed in the car ordered from the drive-thru, or past midnight, or purchased from the bakery of the grocery store. Now that my body is decaying and my metabolism is slowing at an uncomfortable rapid rate, I need to start taking care of myself better. What will this look like? Eat less carbs, more veggies. Stop snacking or eating out of boredom. Eat more meals at the table, not on the couch. Pour less sugar in the coffee.

Work out every day. I picked up pilates this past month. Nothing extreme, just some youtube videos I found online, but I've actually noticed difference in toning and posture — and body image as well! I dread Insanity and I dread running even more, so it's nice that I've found a work out I enjoy! (:

Read two books. I don't work too well without a deadline, so I'm going to add some pressure and try to read two-three books each month. This month I plan on finishing two books before the calendar turns.

Journal. I come home in exactly 26 days. Before I know it, life in Europe will only be a memory, and the only thing real I'll have left are these blog posts, photos, and faded memories I manage to retain. And to help that retention, I want to journal each day — feelings, funny moments, interesting foods, lessons learned — to really make the days count.

Coffee & Honeycomb

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