Coffee & Honeycomb: coffee and honeycomb

Showing posts with label coffee and honeycomb. Show all posts

SHOP ETSY & A NEW KIND OF PLANNING

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

I haven't shared too much about my Etsy shop on this blog before, but there's a couple of exciting things I'm planning so I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek and ask for your opinion! :)

2015 planners are already releasing, so I wanted to try to take a stab at it myself — with my own twist! Everybody who knows me knows I am addicted to planners (and pretty much all things stationary.) To me, a good planner is one that is both functional and reflective of his/her personal style. I used a Moleskine for all four years in college and it was great for school. There was room for daily to-do's, and extra space to doodle and jot down any inspiration that came my way! There are all sorts of planners out there these days (and these Simplifed Planners totally catch my eye), but there was never really a type for other thoughts I wanted to get down...

So I created a weekly planner where you can put pen to paper the stuff not only in your head, but also in your heart and soul. A place where you can pause after a long week of crossing things off your checklist, paying your bills, and running errands, so you can let your soul breathe for a minute. Reflect, re-evaluate, and process that whirlwind of a week you just went through. Because whether you feel accomplished or exhausted or a complicated combination of both, you were made for so much more than grocery lists and errands. At least that's what was going on in my heart for awhile - and I don't think I'm alone.

Planners are so great, and while I will always be a huge advocate for them, I know I tied myself to productivity and accolades for a long time, and I learned there is more to life than making lists and making plans. So in the small spaces of white in my journal, I started scribbling more than how to wring out more minutes in a day or more responsibilities to add to my plate. I started writing about the status of my soul... Things I was thankful for, like the tips I received at work and the spontaneous dinner date my roommates and I had, things I was learning, things I wanted to start praying for, and also bible verses or quotes that inspired me. I did that for about 6 months or so, and it really changed my perspective of work, life, and friendships... And the other day I thought — hey, why not make a planner for this?!

So I did. Err, at least I'm trying. :) From the desk of Coffee & Honeycomb, here is a [working] draft of what it looks like thus far! I wanted to give you all a sneak peek. What do you think? Would you use something like this? What other colors would you like to see? Is there another "space" in the planner I'm missing? Please, please, please share your thoughts because I would love to hear them!

Speaking of all things Etsy, the Etsy swap is back on! Bloggers Amy from Taking Steps Home and Megan from Rivers and Roads are hosting their third Etsy swap — and you can be a part of it, too. I just signed up for it and I'm so, so, so excited to participate. I've never been part of a swap before, but snail mail and etsy is TOTALLY my jam so I'm all in. I hope you are, too! Who knows, maybe I'll be your secret sender. ;) The rules are really simple and you can find them, as well as frequently asked questions, over at either of their blogs. You have until the 17th to sign! Hope to see you there.

XO.

CONFESSIONS OF A BLOGGER [TAG]

Monday, November 25, 2013

Ella of Paper Umbrella tagged me to do the "Confessions of a Blogger" post last week and I kept pushing it off due to all the exams and traveling that was happening, but now that things have settled down a bit, I thought it'd be better late than never.

I was beyond flattered to be tagged by Ella (because she is great and phenomenal), but I also felt pretty hesitant and unqualified to participate because a lot of these questions are geared towards a "serious blogger," and I definitely would not consider myself one! Regardless, I am just going to give it a try for that small bunch who may want to learn more about this wittle blog of mine!

here we go:

1. When did you first start blogging and why?
I first started blogging in August of 2012 when I turned 20 to start documenting life as I knew it. I always enjoyed the blog world ___. My first blog also was actually @ jkfacee.wordpress.com titled, "Now, That's Lovely." Over the summer, I wanted more flexibility and freedom with my blog (without paying a pretty penny), so I made the switch over to blogspot, completely changing and reinventing the brand identity meanwhile.

2. Have you had any past online presence?
I'll tell you a secret. I used to have a youtube. I was really shy about it and only told a few of my closest friends — and I wouldn't let them talk about it in front of me. I did it my sophomore year of college and only uploaded a handful of videos talking nonsense on fashion... But that is in the past.

3. When did you become serious about your blog?
Mm, I think when I started becoming more consistent with this blog was last winter when I was getting ready to go study abroad in Italy for a semester. I wanted to document all of my travels, as well as keep my family updated on my whereabouts, so I began to post on a daily basis. That's when I started being more deliberate on photo and writing quality.

4. What was your first blog post?
My first post was titled, "Cheers to Twenty." It was a little introduction to the new year of adulthood and the blog. You can read it here.

What have been your biggest challenges blogging?
My biggest struggle has been probably carving out time to crank out quality posts while juggling my other responsibilities. Although advised, I never created an editorial calendar for myself so I kind of just blogged when my fingers felt itchy or when I found the time, which resulted in random waves of clutter and/or absence. However, since I've always limited my blogging to things I enjoy, there really are no rules for me. A few years ago, I mostly blogged about professionalism and fashion when that was something I wanted to concentrate on, when I was Italy, the blog was covered with travel photos, and now I dabble in whatever. (: It's a good thing, but it also makes for an unorganized read.

6. What is the most rewarding thing about blogging?
How much time do you have for this one? Because I could go on for daays. Literally. But for the sake of time, let me limit the rewarding aspects to two. First, I love that what started out as an online journal has turned into a hub for my inspiration and reflection of who I am as a person.
Coffee & Honeycomb is a space for my creative bones to exercise through design, photo, and writing, and it's also a reflection of the different and spontaneous interests that kept me occupied over the last few years. I've said it before, but my interests really jump around like crazy through the year, and this blog really reflects that. Second, the network. My relationship with God is and always will be the most important thing about me. And because of that, and because my walk with Him is always a struggle, I needed a space to spit that out, too. As I've shared bits and pieces of my spiritual walk on here, you guys listened — and responded. Finding sisters who are also learning to love the Lord has made lifetime dents into my own walk and I am so incredibly thankful. Reading comments from those who have been touched by my own walk leave me humbled and amazed for days. Yes, this blog is about my life and interests, but in a bigger picture, it's about God and his faithfulness in my life and the different ways he is shaping and molding me. I lied — let me tell you a third reason why blogging has been so rewarding. The way God has revealed himself to me using this blog. Coffee & Honeycomb is entirely dedicated to him, it's a love story to Him, and a live, beating heartbeat and reminder that God loves me. My only response is to share the good news with the rest of the world, too, hence, the title "Coffee & Honeycomb." It is a declaration of the ways God has been so good to me and because I believe that His words are sweet to the soul and bring healing to the bones, Coffee & Honeycomb exists. (Phew, I told ya that one would take awhile.)

7. What is the most discouraging thing about blogging?
I think most people respond to this one with something along the lines of discouraging comments or negative feedback. I am nowhere near well-known enough to have "haters." My most discouraging thing? When I use a measuring stick. When I forget that this blog is my own personal and unique corner of the internet — and not something to be compared to next to others. I get discouraged when I look at numbers. NTS: never focus on the numbers.

8. What is your last inspiration or motivation?
Practice makes perfect. Blogging is a skill you must hone, a language you must learn, and a culture you must observe. The blogland is real — and just like any other new foreign place, you must learn the norms. And that truth is far from discouraging, it's exciting. :) Practice, practice, practice. Practice until your writing voice becomes clear and cutting, practice until you only know how to blog about things that excite and inspire you, practice until you find your own niche.

9. What is your blogging dirty little secret?
Write everything down. Any line that passes in my mind, I jot it in my planner in case I want to use it later. Any blog topic or theme or title, I scribble it because it may inspire me later. Also, I draft — a lot. Sometimes I'll open a new post and just write with no punctuation marks as fast as my little fingers can take me, and then I'll hit "save." Weeks later, I often find those drafts to be unpolished gems, ready to be dressed up with periods and commas and shared with the world. Other times, the drafts are garbage or nothing but angry rants — I keep it saved anyways. Who knows, maybe in another season it will mean something to me.

10. What is your current goal as a blogger?
I am a quitter so my main goal: keep on. Second goal: expand and grow readership. Third goal: tighten my blog identity so it can be more organized.

11. Have you learned or become passionate about anything through blogging that caught you by surprise?
Oh my gosh, yes! One hundred times yes. I fell in love with Pinterest, design, DIY, photo editing, and so much more. As I begin to exercise one creative muscle, a lot of other things become intriguing and exciting, ready to be explored, too.

Phew! We're done. (: If you got through all of this, bless your little heart — and thank you. Thank you for caring and walking with me. Today, I would LOVE to hear from...

Ellyse @ With Love, Ellyse
Amy @ Taking Steps Home
Meg @ Rivers and Roads

I'm tagging you. Hope you participate.

HAPPY NOVEMBER

Friday, November 1, 2013

(image)

HAPPY NOVEMBER, EVERYBODY.
It is the first day of the month that is filled with thanks, loved ones, and food that makes you fall into deep sleeps. Just wanted to welcome in the new month and tie up loose ends of October with you...

In October, we (attempted) to talk about "belovedness" for thirty one days. Although there are not 31 posts, you can find them all here.

GOALS:
- Participate in #shereadstruth
- Begin new blog projects. (I'm really excited for this one. Hint: guest posts + sponsorships)
- Take better care of my body.
- Cut out carbs and look for changes.
- Practice grace daily.
- Sleep before 1 a.m.
- Don't skip class.
- Say "thank you" frequently. (:

HOUSEKEEPING:
Please note the right side bar to see the addition of new friends and sponsors of Coffee & Honeycomb. Be sure to check out their blogs and give them some love. (:

xoxo.

DAY 23 : I WILL NOT GO UNLESS YOU BLESS ME

Thursday, October 24, 2013

This past weekend, our church hosted its annual Revival, a 3-day event strategically placed mid-way through the semester, to open up a space and time for students to be revived and refueled. It's filled with sermons, prayer, and worship. It's a grand time. (:

This year was my fourth one. It is also my last one as a student, and my favorite one.

The sermon from the first night really struck a chord with me and reminded me of this series so I wanted to share a bit about it here. The speaker, Reverend Charlie Dates, spoke on Geneses 32, when Jacob wrestles with God... Genesis 32 begins when Jacob is in the middle of the night hiding from enemies and running away. We meet him sending off his family across a river.

Verses 23 and 24 read, "...he sent over all his possessions. So Jacob was left alone..."

Reverend Charlie Dates pointed out this redundancy as a literary device to emphasize the state of Jacob at this time. He was stripped away of all his physical comforts, his possessions, as well as his emotional and relational support. Jacob is stripped, empty-handed, and alone. At this moment, is when God chooses to meet him and wrestle with him.

The text says they wrestle until daybreak and as God tries to end it, Jacob holds on and says one of most profound and telling requests.

He says, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

When we are stripped away of everything, our innate need and deepest cry of our heart reveals itself — to be blessed by God, to be seen by God. Can I say that again? When we are apart from all the comforts and securities this world can offer us, it is at THAT moment our true and real and personal need and desire is to the surface. To be blessed by God. To be seen by God.

And isn't this what we've been talking about this whole month? I had never read this passage this way, and that particular point cut away at me just as the Word should. I felt so known and understood and rebuked, too. My whole life pattern has been to maximize comfort, maximize security... meanwhile stifling the voice and power of God.

In this passage, God reminds me that He meets me when I am stripped away of everything. That he must take everything in order to give me everything. I want to learn how to daily take everything so tender to my heart and lay it before Him at His feet... ready to be filled with more of Him. More of Him.

LIFE LATELY | "FALL"ING IN LOVE

Friday, September 20, 2013

THESE DAYS:

buying fresh fruit from the store and making smoothies
first small group bible study of the year — 2 Timothy 1:1-7 "Fan Your Heart into Flame
currently reading, "Life of the Beloved" by Henri J.M. Nouwen
putting on a cardigan for fall weather
finishing an entire box of Krave cereal
receiving the most versatile blogger award
dressing up for church
date night with one of my WAC girls: the night included cooking, good talks, and prayer
listening to Jack Johnson's new album

FAVORITE LINKS:

THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD

Friday, September 20, 2013

Happy Friday! :) Last week I was I was awarded the versatile blogger award from Ashesela @ Art Evolve. (Thanks, Ashesela!) What is the versatile blogger award? It is an award "given to you from your blogger peers, for writing quality blogs that have somehow touched them, having good quality photographs, and the uniqueness of the subjects covered. The award is to honor the bloggers who bring something special to your life."(award description taken from The Makeup Squid.)

Thanks so much again, Ashesela! The nomination truly means a lot. (:

HOW IT WORKS:

Display the award certificate on your blog.
Announce your win and thank the blogger who nominated you.
Present 15 deserving bloggers with the award.
Link your nominees in this post and let them know if their nomination.

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF. POST SEVEN INTERESTING THINGS.

I once singlehandedly ate 15 White Castle burgers in one sitting.
I studied abroad in Italy for four months and visited 7 different countries while I was there.
When I was two years old I ran into a table and received 13 stitches next to my left eye. The scar is still there.
I am physically incapable of chugging — and sometimes if I try to drink too fast, it goes down the wrong tube. And by sometimes I mean at least once every day.
I have never gotten a cavity in my life. Which is VERY surprising considering the amounts of sugar and sweets I consume.
I think I am the least pickiest eater I know. Just throw some hot sauce on it, and I will be pleased. :) Minus peanut butter and jelly — both individually and paired together. Can't stand it.
I was captain of my high school's JV lacrosse team my freshman year. This may or may not still be my proudest achievement...

THE FIFTEEN BLOGS I NOMINATE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
(Be sure to check out these!)

Thanks so much for reading and I look forward to hearing what the other bloggers have to say, too.

XO.

HAPPY DOWNLOAD / 2

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Hello! This is week two of my "happy download" series.

How did you like the first one? Did you download any?

( If you missed the first post, click here. )

Since I already shared a desktop in my "let's talk about beauty" post, which is the one I'm actually using right now, I only have one for you guys today. But I promise it's a good one!

Featuring : "Be in love with your life. Every detail of it."

DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS: Right click on the image below and click on "open in new tab." This will give you access to the image's full size. Once you are there, right click + save, or directly drag it onto your desktop. Then, make it your wallpaper! 1, 2, 3! (:

XO.

TUESDAY TEN: THINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Hello there! Happy Tuesday!

It's time for another "TEN THINGS," inspired by lovelyindeed. Today's a VERY special one because I am linking up with my dearest, dearest friend and fellow blogger ellyse @ with love, ellyse. Due to our shared love for blogging and making lists, we've decided to tackle this series together! Besides, it's more fun in pairs.

Ellyse and I became best friends in high school junior year. We met when we both joined the school yearbook's executive staff and then the following year, we ended up having countless AP classes together. Although we didn't exactly instantly click (hehe oops) the moment we realized we were basically the same person, we connected over buffalo pretzels, Lauren Conrad, and frozen yogurt. A solid foundation of a friendship if you ask me.

"I thought you were Asian me, but now I realize I'm just Caucasian you" — New Girl anyone?

Post high school, her and I went to different colleges, but we always kept in touch keeping each other updated on all things inspired. Because we've been each others motivation for so many things, I'm so excited to be doing this series with her. So! Without further ado, I present to you this week's list. (Be sure to check out Ellyse's list, as well.)

Cheers!

XO.

What's on your list?

HELLO MONDAY

Monday, August 12, 2013

Hope your day has been filled with bottomless coffee, fulfilling work, and obedient hair. (:

This is the first Monday in awhile that I didn't wake up early and go to work. In fact, I did quite the opposite — I woke up at 2:30 p.m. and started my day from there (Yikes.) The night before, I attended a farewell BBQ for one of our church friends who was moving back to Korea and got home pretty late. It was a really good time, complete with grilling, sushi, and cake! YUM.

His flight was this morning and he wanted to pull an all-nighter so he could sleep during his 14-hour flight (and aid the jet lag once he arrived,) so after the BBQ started to fade out around 10 p.m., a bunch of us non-working friends went to do Korean karaoke in Niles! It was a blast. If you've never tried karaoke Korean style, I encourage you to put that on the top of your bucket list. They rent out private rooms, ranging in sizes to accommodate your party, decked with a tv screen, tamborines, and microphones so you and your friends can sing your hearts out — without stage fright! They're usually open really late at night (like, 3 a.m.) for the night owls. After we sang three hours worth of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, and FUN., we made our way over to Steak & Shake to grab some late night milkshakes! I ended up coming home when the sun was rising, 6 a.m., and passed out into the late afternoon. (I'm still feeling pretty lethargic.)

When I woke up, I headed over to Starbucks to clear out my inbox and of course, blog. I wanted to share with you guys new arm candy that the bf bought me for an (early) birthday gift! Over the weekend, we decided to go eye shopping at Tiffany's and passed by J.CREW along the way. And of course, I made us peep in. I spotted these colorful, bold bangles there that immediately caught my eye and I fell in love! I thought I'd treat myself to one, so I grabbed the colors that I liked and contemplated which one to get. The bf asked me if I liked all of them and said, "don't choose. Let's get 'em all. Birthday present part one." I, gladly, did not oppose. (What a guy. This is why I keep him around. He keeps me smiling for days.)

Here they are! They are beautiful! Gold on the rim and gold in the inside. That makes me happy. Very Kate Spade-esque, no? Happy early birthday to me! :)

#jcrewproblems

XO.

LET'S SHARE LOVE

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Yesterday, we talked about beauty and how to be more confident and forgiving of ourselves. We also looked at the bible to see what it had to say.

How are you feeling today? (If you missed yesterday's post, click here.)

In the spirit of our discussion, I thought a fun application would be to share some love and beauty to the people around us! I mentioned the power of affirming words — so let's tell our friends how beautiful they are. I whipped up some "you are beautiful" cards you can print out and give to your friends.

The printable includes two 3.5 x 5 inch cards total, with the ability to print off as many copies as you like! They also fold in half so you can include a little note inside. (:

HOW TO DOWNLOAD: Right click the image above and click on "open in new tab." You will then have access to the full image. From there, right click and save to your computer. It should save as a .png file. Then, click print! Easy peasey.

Have fun!
Will you be sending love & beauty to someone today?

XO.

HOPE IT'S A GOOD ONE, FRIENDS.

Friday, August 9, 2013

I love weekends. And this one in particular is special because today was my last day at HAVAS — not that I am happy about not working, but the fact that every minute of the day now belongs to me. And you know what else?

I DON'T HAVE TO COME HOME EARLY AND SLEEP LIKE AN OLD PERSON! I CAN PLAY! WHO WANTS TO PLAY? ~~NOTHING~~ EVERYTHING GOOD HAPPENS AFTER 2 A.M.

This weekend, I plan on...

- Getting a much needed haircut. Right now, it nearly brushes my belly button. Yikes.
- Shopping. No explanation needed.
- (Finally) talking to a doctor about my balding problem.
- Playing in the grass. The weather looks promising. Picnic, anyone? Frisbee?
- Designing. I only have 11 days left of my Adobe suite free trial, and you bet I'm going to MILK it.
- Cleaning my room. You're welcome, mom.

What are your weekend plans?

XO.

HAPPY DOWNLOAD / 1

Thursday, August 8, 2013

My favorite part about following design bloggers (besides the amount of inspiration it exudes) is: THE FREEBIES! Anything from fun greeting cards to organizational printables and especially new wallpapers are always a joy to come across as a reader. (: A few bloggers who always spit out designs that I enjoy and appreciate are DESIGN EAT REPEAT, DESIGN LOVE FEST and BREANNA ROSE. All the great work has inspired me to start creating and sharing my own! Starting today, I aim to create two new graphic and inspiring downloads for you each week. I think wallpapers are the perfect way to get my design fix when I'm itching to create, as well as share with you some of my favorite quotes and verses.

Today I'm kicking off the new series "happy download" with 5 super simple desktop wallpapers! I hope you enjoy and I'd love to hear if you chose one to download!

TO DO SO: Right click on the image and click on "open in new tab." This will allow you to access the image's full size. Once you are there, right click + save, or directly drag it onto your desktop. Then, make your wallpaper! 1, 2, 3! (:

Secret - sometimes what I do with desktop wallpapers I find is I print it out and tape it to my wall. I call it wall art. :) Feel free to do that with these, too.

^ Those four are my own original creations. Hope you like! I also wanted to share with you the desktop I am currently using which I found from DESIGN LOVE FEST. (below)

----------

* ALSO! This is my FIRST original post exclusive to this blog. (YAY!) Please continue to follow along by subscribing to the email list on the right OR via my personal favorite, BLOGLOVIN. (:

CLICK HERE FOR MORE COFFEE&HONEYCOMB ON BLOGLOVIN.

xo.