September Favourites

Hello darlings!

I hope this post finds you well! I am very happy that it is finally Spring, although there is still a slight Winter chill in the air, it smells like Spring.

This month my family was sick for a good few weeks with a nasty flu, but thankfully it is behind us now.
Aside from that, in September, I enjoyed starting to wear t-shirts, going out in the sunshine and watching the Spring blossoms bloom on the trees, especially the magnolia trees. They are particularly lovely!

Those are some of my favourite things about Spring but now I am here to share with you the other things that became favourites this month.




BOOKS

Sadly this month was not a good reading month for me. I read only two books, though I hope to finish a third by the 30th.
• Kind is the New Classy: The Power of Living Graciously by Candace Cameron Bure
• Black Like Me by John Howard Griffin

I enjoyed both of these and you can find my reviews/thoughts & ratings of the books here and here.
Currently, I am also reading A Light On the Hill by Connilyn Cossette with the Biblical Fiction Buffs , which a Biblical fiction centred book club.



MUSIC & PODCASTS

• My Electronic Chill playlist on Spotify
I created this recently and enjoy listening to it while doing something like sewing or painting.

• My Girl by The Temptations
I first heard this song in Father of the Bride, which we watched for the 3rd or 4th time this month. It is played during a sweet scene where Mr Banks and his soon-to-be-wed daughter Annie shoot some hoops and it just gives me the happy vibes that the movie has.

• Rend Collective
A friend on Instagram (@joy_and_wildflowers) told me about this band and I have been enjoying some of their songs this past week. In particular Nailed to the Cross, Yahweh, Counting Every Blessing-Ukulele Session, and True North.
I love the vibe of their music, it seems to have a hint of folk/country and makes me want to drive out to the mountains!

• Episode 7 & 8 of The Right Kind of Strong by Revive Our Hearts
Episode 7, Stand Your Ground and Episode 8, Admit Your Need were the last two parts to the series I've been going through lately.
The whole series is great and I recommended it last month but these last two were really good.



MOVIES

I haven't got any for this month!
My family is having an Aladdin/Middle Eastern movie night tonight, I'll let you know what I think next month.

FASHION & BEAUTY

• My new haircut/fringe!
I love how a fringe frames your face and make most hairstyles look even better!

Happy Spring everyone! Or Happy Autumn/Fall if you're on the other side of the world!

What was your favourite/most listened to song or music from this month?


keep blooming,

Problems that Bookworms have

Hello darlings!

This post idea came to me the other day and I thought it would be a fun, and hopefully relatable to my fellow book worms.
I've compiled a list of a bunch of the problems we bookworms face in our love for reading, because while we love to read and the perks of reading, there are also a few things that bother us.


So sit back, enjoy and relate with me!


when someone else doesn't like our favourite book...
I have had this a few times recently when I see that someone didn't enjoy one of my favourite books or dislikes a book I enjoyed. I t can be disappointing, that they don't share your sentiments for an author's writing, the captivating plot and lovable characters!


 when we run out of money for books...
This is a sad fact. The truth is that we bookworms only have so much in our purse or bank account and sometimes we run out of book-buying money. Then we have to simply walk past the bookshop and glance back wistfully at all the books that we cannot take home, or click out of our favourite online book store to avoid the temptation of adding several to our cart.


when we run out of space for our books...
Similarly to the last point, another problem a bookworm will most likely face is the terrible moment one realises that one's bookshelves are full to bursting and there not a bit of room for another volume.
Time to get a new bookshelf....or get rid of a few books!


when when someone damages our books...
Thankfully this has not happened to me that frequently because I rarely lend people my books but it is awful to receive a beloved book back only to find it is worse for wear!


when we have so many books to read and so little time to read them all...
The struggles is so real folks! We bookworms have so many books we want to read either on our own shelves or on our Goodreads shelf and yet we often have little time to read them all!


when our reading time is interrupted...several times...
I'm sure you know the feeling. You sit down, get comfy, and open the book, only to have someone come and ask you something. Then you settle down again and read a paragraph, then get called by a family member...I'm sure you get the picture! It just isn't your day for reading, so eventually, you give up and put the book down, regretfully.


when the library doesn't have the next book in the series...
Seriously, why do libraries do this? Surely they realise that most people will want to read every book in the series and not just book one, four and five!



Those are just a few of the things I thought of.
Let me know some of the bookish problems you have in the comments!


keep blooming,

Book Recommendations ~ a few of my favourite books

Hello darlings!

There has been a distinct lack of bookish posts on this blog I am about to change that.
I am going to try to answer the question that we book worms dread, and that is (drumroll please!)....... "What is your favourite book?"

Of course, I have a few! One simply cannot choose only one favourite book.
So today I am going to try and narrow down my large list of favourite reads to just a few very good ones I 'd like to recommend!

(And these are by no means in any order.)

Stepping Heavenward by Elizabeth Prentiss

Genre: Classics/Christian Fic/Historical Fic

When I first began listening to this book as an audiobook, I had no idea how much I would love it. I believe it is right up there with Little Women on the list of books that all girls and young women should read! It is written in journal entries and at times almost feels like a devotional. There are so many lessons in this book and I can't recommend it enough.
I must share this slightly comical quote with you!
"Oh, speak plainly by all means! I am quite sick and tired of having the truth served up in pink cotton and scented with lavender."

A Rose for the ANZAC Boys by Jackie French

Genre: YA/Historical

I reread this again this year and I loved it just as much, if not more, than when I read it the first time(a few years ago now).
Stories set during one of the World Wars always fascinate me, even though they were sad times.
This book follows a young woman named Midge as she and her friends set up a canteen for the soldiers who pass through the railway station.
She goes on to do much more than she ever expected. I just love this story!

The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson

Genre: Romance/Christian Fic/Fairy Tale

I actually recommend you read this whole series beginning with book one, The Huntress of Thornbeck Forest, but since this middle book is my favourite out of the three I going to talk about this one today!
First off, doesn't it just have a gorgeous cover? It is a fairy tale retelling set in the Medieval time period.
I love the characters and how in each book we get to revisit the characters from the previous book.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Genre: Historical Fiction

Every time I think about reading this book again I get all excited! I'm planning to save it for Summer because it seems to fit with the season.
I saw the movies before I read this and while the movie is great, the book is better.
I am drawn to stories about African American's (or coloured people in general) and their lives through history. (I should maybe write a post about that!) The Help is fabulously written and the characters are really well done too. My favourites would have to be Minny and Celia!

Love in Disguise by Carol Cox

Genre: Historical/Christian Fic

If you can't tell, I love historical books. This is another of my favourites. It is a mystery with a hint of romance. I like that the romance doesn't overpower the rest of the plot.
Ellie Moore becomes a Pinkerton agent and goes undercover disguised as two different women. As the reader, you will worry that she will be discovered before she can solve the mystery keep you turning the pages until the end!

Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot

Genre: Christian Living/Nonfiction

I like this book because each chapter is short and are great to read before bed and Elisabeth Elliot has so much wisdom to share!

This book is full of wisdom on marriage, womanhood, discipline, and the Christian life. I wrote on my Goodreads that I thought it best suited to someone who is engaged or close to being married, but really any woman should read it.

I'd like to reread it in the near future!

Those are just a few titles I wanted to recommend to you if you are on the hunt for your next read.

Let me know if have already read some or which ones you'll be adding to your TBR!

keep blooming,

Kindness

Hello darlings!

Recently I finished listening to an audiobook of Candace Cameron Bure's book, Kind is the New Classy and I was challenged by her message.
Her message was a simple one, but one that has power because kindness is powerful.
I definitely recommend that you read her book!
It got me thinking, so I wrote down some of my thoughts in my journal and I thought that I would share them on here too.
Hopefully, this will give you some food for thought and challenge you.

• • • •

Through reading this book, I realized that being simply being only as nice as necessary isn't enough.
I should really be more kind than necessary. I was convicted of this in my life.
I sometimes have the mindset that I only need to be a little bit kind to someone, but to enough to go out of my way to show them kindness.
It sounds awful, I'll admit, but it's the truth. And I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks this way sometimes.


One of the cool things about kindness is that one small act of kindness can start a ripple effect.
Your act of kindness to someone will most likely inspire them to act kindly to someone else.
In return, when you are kind, others will be more likely to show kindness back to you.

After reading Candace's words, I was inspired to keep my eyes open to any opportunities to be kind.
I want to go the extra mile in my everyday life and try to infuse the people around me with Christ's love through acts (or words) of kindness that the Lord will help me to do.
For example, I'm going to a youth conference in a few weeks and instead of only seeking what I can get out of it, I want to use it as an opportunity to seek ways in which I can serve and be kind to others.

I want to be the listening ear for anyone who has a burden, I want to be the person someone can laugh with, I want to be a light that spreads the love of Jesus everywhere I go and sometimes that means getting down and doing the dirty work (Jesus washed his disciples feet! You can't get much more dirty than that!) or the work that barely anybody notices. I want to be kind to everyone I meet and those who I already know.
I also believe that turning outside of myself to be kind to others around me will help me not to be so wrapped up in worrying about what others think of me (which is a struggle I have).


Ultimately by being kind to our fellow man (or woman!) we are following the example of Christ which is the most important motive. We will also be glorifying God in all that we do if we do it with love and kindness.
Genuine kindness is becoming rare in today's world, which is a world of anger, hate and rudeness (especially on the Internet).
It is our responsibility as Christians to be a light set on a hill, showing love, compassion and kindness on a broken and dark world that desperately needs it.

 So I challenge you to look around you today and see the ways that you can show kindness to the people around you. I'll start you off with a few ideas.

• Smile, really smile at people
• Write a letter, not or text to a friend to encourage them and let them know you are thinking of them
• Cook a meal for someone
• Take time to pray for someone
• Do some chores for your mum so she doesn't have to do them
• Offer to babysit for a busy mother
• Host people in your home and practice hospitality

Pinterest

The last thing I want to to say to you is we can't do this in your own strength. We need the strength of another, stronger than us. We need God's love and grace to help us.
We also cannot pour out all these good things to the people surrounding us if we don't fill ourselves up with Him first. This means that each and every day we need to come to Him to be filled.


We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us!


keep blooming,
xo Hannah

6 Ways to Freshen Up Your Room

via Unsplash

Hello darlings!

If you know me you will know that I love decorating my bedroom, and organisation.
It makes me so happy to have a clean, pretty and organised space to call my own. But we all know that your bedroom can get messy and untidy quite quickly!

Today I want to share some of my favourite ways to freshen up and tidy my room!



1. Let the fresh air in!
I am a great believer in the benefits of fresh air! I love to open the window in my room on a sunny day and let in that lovely breeze.
It just makes the room feel a lot cleaner even though all you did was open the window. It also helps improve the quality of the indoor air.


2. Wash your bedding (or get a new set)
I don't do this enough! I did it recently and let the duvet cover and everything else dry outside in the sun and it felt so nice to get into a clean bed that night.
If your bedding is looking a bit worn and thin, maybe it is time to get a new one!


3. Wipe down all the surfaces & vacuum the floor (thoroughly!)
I usually vacuum once a week and wipe everything down every now and then when the dust has accumulated a bit.
These are both simple and quick tasks but both ones that will make a difference!


4. Add fresh flowers or a house plant
Adding something living to your space instantly helps make it feel more alive! Makes sense right?
Flowers make anything so happy and cheerful and will probably make you smile when you see therm.
House plants also help to clean the air and some even improve sleep quality. They are definitely something to keep around!


5. Declutter, declutter, declutter!
I find decluttering to very satisfying and rewarding. Get rid of the thing you no longer need or want. Giving them to a second-hand shop means someone else can enjoy it more than you did.
This applies to clothes, decor items, books and other bits & bobs. It will give you more space and make your room look cleaner because you have fewer things in it.


6. Hang up some new wall decor
I recently made my own little banner and hung it up on my wall and I love how it looks!
Frame a print or photo, put up a cute wall hanging, or a garland/banner. A few new touches here and there will give your space an updated look and help you feel more inspired when you are in it.


Enjoy these quick tips and I hope they help or inspire you to make something beautiful out of your space!



keep blooming,

Hannah

A Collection of Quotes // Kisses from Katie

Hello darlings!

I thought that instead of a normal book review, this time I would just share my favourite quotes from the book Kisses from Katie.

This book is a wonderful story of how God used and is still using her to make Him known among the nations. I highly suggest you pick it up, it will change you in one way or another.
This post is a compilation of quotes that I loved and highlighted as I was reading.

• • • •

~ Thankfully, God's plans do not seem to be affected much by my own. ~

~ Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces, and put it back together again more beautifully. ~

~  have learned that something happens when one makes herself available to God: He starts moving in ways no one could imagine. ~

~ This was one of the many instances when the Lord has shown me that the more I give of myself, the more He fills me up. The more I love, the more love I have to give. ~

~ But so often, when we stop to be kind when we don't really want to, that's when the sacrifice becomes most rewarding. ~

People often asked me then as they do now, "How do you do it?"

The answer has never changed and it is so simple: I don't. It's just a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. This plan, these "accomplishments," they are so not my own.

I am dependant.

Powerless.

Weak.

Drowning. 

While those adjectives may sound scary, they put me in a beautiful place, a place where I couldn't go one minute without crying out to my Father or I would sink.

If I continue to preach the gospel, and more importantly, live the gospel, here--even if outward conditions never change or change very slowly--and these people can live eternally with Jesus in heaven someday, a few years of suffering will pale in comparison.

~ Being a Christ-follower means being acquainted with sorrow.

We must know sorrow to be able to fully appreciate joy. Joy costs pain, but the pain is worth it. ~

Even Jesus kept His scars after the resurrection. My stains are beautiful to Him and as I become dirtier and more beat up, I am becoming perfect, transformed into the image of the One who made me.

• • • •

I think that that last one is so beautiful! If you think about it, since Jesus became bruised, wounded, dirty and bloody for us, when we are true followers of Him we will ultimately become like this too. But he sees that as beautiful. To Him, it is beautiful because it shows complete surrender, total trust and reliance on Him. We are powerless, but He is our strength.

I just think it is a powerful image to think of. 

I hope these words made you think. I hope that they inspired or encouraged you. 

Please read the complete story in Katie's book, you will not regret it!

keep blooming,

Hannah