Christmas Chaos & Christmas Cheer

*Ducks head out of holiday sweater* Is it safe to come out now?

Hey there, friends! I don't know about you, but Christmas (and 2017, honestly) has been CRAZY. CRAZY. For starters, from September on, time has been rocketing forwards. Autumn was basically a free fall into the holiday season: There was my birthday, NaNo, my sister's graduation, getting a mini-promotion at work(!) and now Christmas (and its insanity) is on the way. Yo, we've got aggressive ladies in Target and elderly drivers out here. I kid you not, these FL snowbirds are out for blood.

DON'T LIE I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN THERE

So yes, this was going to be a nice orderly post about tips on de-stressing, but YO, I don't have it all figured out. I don't have tips for y'all today. What I do have is a heart so appreciative for the goodness of God (who puts up with my sass) and this year He has given. No tips, but an excitement for the celebration of our Lord - and delicious food. Cookie dough brownies? YES PLEASE.

Have an awesome Christmas and a fantastic 2018, guys!

What are your plans for the holidays this year? Do you have a favorite dish or dessert you're looking forward to? If anyone has any fun traditions, please let me know down in the comments! (My mom always makes quiche and waffles on Christmas morning.) ♥

On Being Yourself

Happy weekend, friends! It's finally here. :)

So, today's blog post is going to be a tad more personal. As 2017 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on what the year has held and what I've learned. I think of accomplishments (like graduating college), gaining new skills (graphic design and photography), but I am also reminded of the year's struggles and how they have shaped me. And I know this is *cheesy* but I really want to talk about what I've learned about being yo'self.

Here we go!

So, this year has been a journey. That's the only way I can describe it. There have been such victories this year, but there has also been a big battle with insecurity. Insecurity is something I have wrestled with so hard. And for what? This can manifest itself in the form of perfectionism, comparing myself to others, and eventually it bleeds into my art. When you compare your gifts, your body, your talents, your style, etc. to everyone around you, it zaps your joy. It takes away your individuality and that precious celebration of who Christ has made you to be.

So what have I learned?

I've learned that being 24 is not what I thought it would be. (Yo, I finally understand Jon Foreman's "24" now.) This thing we call the 20's is an odd little beast. Maybe I'm a late bloomer and I should have done all of this self discovery in high school, but I still feel like I'm coming into my own. That I'm still realizing who I am and who I want to become. And maybe that is something that is ever-evolving; maybe we are always getting to know ourselves at different stages of life.

But one thing I know for sure is that I never, ever have to change for anyone.
And neither do you.

There is something so inexpressibly wonderful about individuality. It floors me how beautiful and diverse the Lord has made every living soul, and I'm starting to let that leak into my own confidence as well. If you're struggling with insecurity, I want you to just OWN IT, yo. Are you into fandoms and geek culture? Rock it. Don't dress like the magazines want you to? Do you, boo. Have a quiet heart in a room full of loud souls? Be the listener. That's awesome.

*So much cheese on the bloggeth today*

If there's anything 2017 has taught me, it's that life is short, and the days are passing quickly. There is not time enough to fear, or worry, or stress. Go out and love yourself, love others, do the thing you have always wanted to do but always thought you couldn't. Give yourself grace.

What about you?

What has 2017 taught you about yourself? About life? If you want, list 5 radical things that you love about yourself in the comments below, or 5 things you want to do in the New Year. Love y'all! You rock. 

The Creatives Project #2: Evangeline Yackel

Hello, friends!!

Welcome back to the second installment of the Creatives Project! The series kicked off with the wonderful Julia Ryan and continues with the gloriously creative and whimsically hilarious Evangeline of An Odd Blog. Be sure to stop by her blog and show her some love! And now, without further ado....

HERE ARE THE QUESTIONS!

Who or what inspires you to create?

"I get inspired by two people: Myself and God. God inspires me everyday in so many ways, but especially with writing. He is the ultimate wordbuilder, plotter and reviser. He was in love with His characters before anyone else. I know this is the cheesiest Christian writer thing to say, but it's true. Whenever I look around at the world, I try to remember that He created everything from nothing. He had no point of reference or something else to build on. It was all pure inspiration. When I put it in that perspective, my own writing struggles seem to melt away and I am filled with inspiration."  

What time of day do you do your best creative work?

Source: Pinterest

"I like to think that I'm one of those creative geniuses who write feverishly into the night, fueled by caffeine, but alas, I go to bed by 10:30 every night, and fall asleep at my computer if I stay up any later. I get my best creative work done between the hours of 7-10 a.m."

What has been your biggest challenge in your own creative journey?

"They say that writing is a lonely career, and it's very true. As much as I love my family, they all don't know the first thing when it comes to writing, so I always end up babbling about something novel-related, and they nod along. I've had to learn how to edit, rewrite, push through plot holes, how to do everything all on my own. I'm sure that's the case with a lot of writers. It's an isolating job, and I've had to word hard to not get used to that isolated feeling and stay there forever."

What's your favorite flavor of ice cream?

"Because I am pretty sure that everyone knows the best flavor: Mint Chocolate Chip. It has been my favorite for as long as I can remember, and it ain't about to change. I am very passionate in my love for Mint Chip."

(SAME, GIRL, SAME.)

What do you do when you're in a creative rut or have writer's block?

Source: Pinterest

 "I haven't been in a creative rut in a long time for two reasons:

I treat myself kindly. It's been quite the process to let go of the sky-high expectations of myself (which was why I used to get writer's block all the time), and treat myself with some kindness. I give myself a lot more room for relaxation. My outlook on productivity is that as long as I'm moving forward, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, it makes the day worthwhile. Lack of pressure lets the creative juju flow easier (I don't know what "creative juju" means, but let's just go with it).

I quickly figure out what's stopping me up. On the rare occasion that I do find myself in a creative rut, I figure out what the issue is. For me, it's never just being drained creatively, it's always for another reason. So I figure out why, fix it (which sometimes involves curling in a ball and crying), and move on."

What is your favorite season?

"If I could live in a world of winter, I would. The White Witch had the right idea: casting a world into eternal ice and cold. #Lifegoals"

Evangeline's Advice for Creatives:

Source: Pinterest

"You are not doing this to please anyone else. It doesn't matter what people say or think. The advice "Write the book you want to read" gave me the book I'm proudest of. If you want to write a book that you think no one else will want to read, go for it. If you want to bake a zucchini chocolate pizza, do it. If you want to knit socks for lizards, reach for the stars. Just because someone else doesn't agree with or understand it doesn't mean that it is not valid and amazing. ALSO: Don't be afraid to be proud of your work. I know so many people who always shrug off compliments because they don't want to seem arrogant. Accept the compliment. Acknowledge that your work is good."

A huge thank you to Evangeline for being a part of the Creatives Project! Your answers were super enlightening and witty. Love it! Don't forget to check out Evangeline's blog here!

Would you like to be the next blogger featured in the Creatives Project? Check it out here! How do you power through a creative rut? And do you also love Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream as much as Evangeline and I do? ♥