My Satisfaction


I was debating whether or not to share this with everyone. 
I don't always like going into too many personal things of this nature on here.
Simply because, well, it's personal.
However, I felt prompted to in hopes that it might encourage someone and be something that someone maybe needed to read or get a little something out of.
Not to say that I have any magnificent all knowing advice that's extremely life changing. But you know, sometimes we can learn from others mistakes.

Honestly, I've had a rough few weeks. 
I've taken on a lot of new projects, new changes, and new adjustments.
Life's just been a little bit crazy lately.
But it's really not even that. A lot of it, most of it, is good stuff and I love keeping busy.
Truthfully, if I'm not doing something I feel is productive, I have a hard time functioning (this is one of the biggest reasons I knit during movies...)
However, I slowly got myself into this rut. I lost a lot of passion and motivation for the things I was doing. Even the things I loved doing. And I knew something was off.
One of my best qualities, I believe, is being able to find happiness in little things. Anything can make my day really. A new book, a cupcake, new yarn, a sweet voicemail from a friend, anything silly and little that I love. I'm always able to find something good in a situation.
But I'd lost even that ability.

I eventually realized I was trying to find happiness and overall satisfaction in things of this world. Which is something I know I need to guard against and think about regularly, because I'm definitely more susceptible to it than others I feel like. At least at times.
But it's so easy to get caught up in what the world says will make you happy.
Achieving this, doing that, going here, being there, it's an endless cycle that we can get so easily sucked into.
I realized that I was trying to accomplish all of my things I needed to do, all of my check lists and reminders and notes, my appointments, etc. to achieve a satisfaction that I wasn't going to find.
I'm never ever going to accomplish all that I think I need to do and accomplish.
There will always be something else to do, something else to finish and get done. And basing my happiness on the accomplishment of these things is just stupid.
It's a race I'm never going to win.
Even if I manage to accomplish a fair amount of things, the temporary satisfaction it brings is so fleeting.
It's nothing compared to what God can give me.

So, in short, I learned that I need to start my day with Him.
I know it is such a cliche Christian thing to say, that you should start your day with a devotion and reading the bible, but it is so so true. I've been reading a devotion called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young and it is literally something I look forward to every morning. It starts off my day right, in the right mindset, and my day always, always goes better because of it.
Not to say that I don't still have struggles and downfalls, but I'm so much more prepared to fight them now.

Also, I need to continually trust God. Not just every day, but every moment. And to give God my moments. Because He is the keeper of time and if there is something I need to get done or accomplish, it will get done and be accomplished.
I need to trust Him in that.
I am so tempted every morning to skip my devotions when I'm running late in getting out the door. But I find that every time I do take a few minutes to just sit, breathe, and spend some time with God, it's like time stops for a little bit and I never end up being late or running out of time. Because I trusted God in knowing that if I spent time with Him, everything would turn out alright.

And finally that I need to look to Him for satisfaction and peace. In the activity addiction of this age it's not an easy thing, because we are constantly told that we need to do this, this, this, this and this to achieve peace and happiness. But that's not true. We simply have to rest in God and know that He is the only thing that can really give that to us. We can't find that anywhere else. Or in anyone else. Or in anything else. He is the only true source of peace and satisfaction and happiness.


“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid." -John 14:27

Life According to Instagram

Last week I...

-Went to Baltimore and participated in the DIY Festival!
-Formally introduced Lewis
-Tried to start reading some more again
-Ate some pie
-Made lots of new cowls for the shop! Who wants one?
-Got super super excited about FALL!!
-Wore a dress I haven't worn since being in Boston. I miss it. 
-Shared some sparkler photos
-Tried a new restaurant
-Developed the most erratic sleeping schedule. It needs to be fixed. 




A Bunny Named Lewis

Some of you may remember my brief little post introducing my new bunny Lewis.
I promised more photos and, of course, it took me a bit longer than I thought it would to get around to it.
I have mentioned him a few times here and there (and there), but I wanted to give him a more in depth post to properly introduce him!
I've mentioned jokingly, and not so jokingly, that I've wanted a bunny in the past, and the opportunity to own one just sort of fell in my lap.
 Or rather, was placed in my lap. Once I held him I couldn't leave him!
He's named after Lewis Carroll (because whenever I think of bunnies I think of Alice In Wonderland) and he's quite the little character.  

He's a cutie.
And I love him.
He's also a little poop head sometimes with a bit of a temper and mind of his own...
However, he's been a good little friend around here.

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Does anyone else out there own a bunny? 
Or have any bunny tips or advice?
I'm definitely not an expert so I'd appreciate anything you all would want to throw my way!

P.s. A little shout out to my friend Kelly is in order, for her help during all of this! 
Thanks for answering my 392 questions Kelly. ;)


Reading

I haven't been very good about making time for reading lately, but I'm trying to be better about that. 
Because I do love it so very much.
I'm currently reading A Tree Grows In Brooklyn by Betty Smith and I'm really enjoying it though I can never seem to read more than two pages at a time...
I recently scored a nice copy of The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, which I read over the Summer and really loved, as well as a copy of a collection of Lewis Carroll's stories.
You can never have too many Alice in Wonderland books in my opinion.

Also, I'm so happy that chillier weather is here and I can drink tea again. 
I can't ever bring myself to do it when it's hot outside. It just doesn't feel right.


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What are some of your favorite books?

A Vintage Shop

I came across these photos on my external hard drive and realized that I'd never shared them and had intended to! 

They're not the best, but for a mid week post I figured why not?

I went to this little road side antique/vintage shop on the way home from

this

mini road trip and I ended up going home with an awesome old Coca Cola crate and some old keys.

Though do you see the blue china? Yea I almost bought that. 

But I'm glad I didn't cause I like

the set I ended up getting

a lot more!

Looking around places like this has always been one of my favorite things to do though. Even if I don't end up buying anything. It's neat to look at old things and wonder what their stories are and what the people who used to own them were like.

......................

What about you? 

Do you like looking around old vintage shops?

Captain Buzzy's Beanery

Captain Buzzy's Beanery is yet another cute coffee shop I've had the chance to check out recently.
You regular readers will probably recognize Mary from a few posts back. 
She and I also hit up Globehopper the same day actually!
I mean we were in the area, we figured why not?

Captain Buzzy's was lovely though.
We each got one of their "OMG" cookies and honestly, I don't even remember what was in it, but it was delicious. I wanted to take a whole plateful home...
Their sweet tea was also one of the best I've had in RVA.

I know you must think I can't possibly be as enthusiastic as I have been about all these things that I've tried at these places and that they must be paying me to compliment them. But seriously, I must have a gift with picking good first drinks and foods to try. Because so far I haven't been let down.
Or these places could just genuinely have good food...
One or the other.
;)

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See more posts on Richmond eateries here


Street Style Saturday


One of my favorite street style photos I've taken recently.
Saw this guy downtown a few weeks ago and of course I had to stop him.
I mean how could I not?
Just look at those precious little puppies!

Hope you're all having a good weekend!
I'm waiting for Fall to show up.
It's too hot around here.