clean slate.

With every fresh start (aka a new year), there’s the incessant need to make a drastic change in your life.  This year, I have three specific hopes and goals that I want to achieve…slowly.  Like a tortoise.  I know that if I jump in head first with all my might, it won’t pay off in the end.  I need to take my time, listen to myself, and reflect – a lot (because Lord knows I learned how to do that in college – better put that to use). 

My three main goals are… *drum roll please*

1.    Love myself.

2.    Love Lee.

3.    Love Jesus.

I’m not saying I don’t do any of those right now, I just know that I could do all those far, far better.  I want to learn to recognize my flaws, understand how I can change things about myself (and do it!) and set myself up for a positive outcome (ya know, instead failure – because everyone hates failure). 

I want to focus on listening to my body and giving it good things to eat, moving it, and loving that its mine.  I want to plan my life so that it can be as stress-free as possible.  I want to embrace lists.  (They help, Aubrey, don’t try to deny it.)

I want to be a better wife to my husband.  I want to work towards being the best team we can be, because let’s face it – we are a team.  I need to stop trying to be so individualized. 

Lastly, I want to know that I am doing my part to have a healthy relationship with Jesus.  I don’t do much now.  I have a lot of room to grow.  I am so looking forward to that growth. 

I’m really excited for 2014.  I’m excited for the possibilities, for the fresh start that we get every 365 ¼ days.  And please don’t worry, I’ll fill you in along the way. 

(Image via Pinterest)

the first barefoot day of 2011.

let me start off by saying: i'm so happy right now.  yesterday and today have been two of the best "i'm so happy to be alive" days (and not because i've had any near death experiences, except yesterday i went to a random in-house sale which always makes me a little nervous and today i had to get my bitchpants on with a lady at work - both unsettling things).  yesterday was awesome because i got up early to get my hair cut (if you want an awesome hair cut and are in the goshen area, check out Tori Miller at US Male - she's amazing & also my BFF), then i went to the said in-house sale and purchased $65 pristine pieces of Pyrex (each piece was five dollars or under), then i went grocery shopping and stopped at Goodwill and a local thrift store and got some belts and a LOT of vintage crafty stuff.  today was awesome because i got to work with my great friend Elaine and then i came home and got the house cleaned up, Lee (my fiance) grilled, and Kyle's hanging out.  all good things.  plus i'm starting to live more and more in my craft room, which is a transition i definitely needed.  plus my grandpa (aka my neighbor) brought home a mule named Molly today, so that's always exciting :).

now let me say that i feel a real change coming in my life.  the school year is almost over, i'm finally not taking summer classes, and i'm excited to devote myself to all sorts of work, both for money, outside, and in my crafty abode.  and with that, i want to become an actual blogger, not just a window-shopper.  to delve in is what i want (as it is what i do with everything).  if i give it all i've got, perhaps it will become something.  perhaps.  if you have any advice, send it my way :).

as a person with a tendency to forget all the good that's ever happened in my life and focus on the bad, it's important that i document these things so that i can look back and say, "yeah...life is awesome."  so today i say, "LIFE IS AWESOME." and i really, really mean it.

a bit about fashion

fashion is something i don't think much about.  or actually, i think about it a lot but what i see i know wouldn't look right on me, so i don't think of it in application terms.  everything is made for tiny or at least proportionate people!  but tonight this thought dawned on me: aubrey, get OVER IT.  if you want to wear something or have a definable style, do it.  nothing (well, except lee - he has a mindset against certain types of "change", but i still love him) is standing in my way; let's OWN THIS (but it'll take some definite work - i'm all jeans and teeshirts right now).

so tonight i started browsing etsy and seeing what i would like to reinvent my wardrobe (and myself) with and here is a sampling of what i dig - belts and dresses!

and why not some mushrooms?  :)

do you feel like you have a style?  and if you do, do you feel that it represents who you want to be?

xoxo, 

aubrey e!