March Favourites

Hello darlings!

Its hard to believe that I haven't done a monthly favourites post since November!
January and February to me felt like they were really long but also because we were busy, time went by very quickly it seemed.
March has felt like it has gone on forever but finally April is around the corner.

I am very excited to get back into sharing my monthly favourites with you.
So lets dive into March!


BOOKS

My focus for my reading this year is not how many I can read but just to enjoy reading go through them at a slower pace so as to get the most out of them.
So this month I finished a total of three books.

~ When God Calls the Heart: Devotions from Hope Valley by Michelle Cox & Brian Bird
~ The Help by Kathryn Stockett {reread}
~ I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith

I can't pick a favourite and I will tell you why.
When God Calls the Heart was a nice devo but not my favourite. The Help is a favourite book of mine and I reread it this month so it doesn't really count as a new favourite.
Now, I Capture the Castle is a book that I can't quite pin how I feel about it. I enjoyed reading it though. You can read some of my thoughts on it here.

MUSIC & PODCASTS

~ Q + A | Get To Know Me Harvest Work Ep. 3

~ Good and Gracious King by CityAlight

~ Sheep May Safely Graze by Bach

~ Slow Down Playlist by Kaetlyn Kennedy

MOVIES

Jumanji: The Next Level

I was surprised at how much I like these movies!
They are quite funny and the adventure is thrilling to watch. I went and saw it in the cinema with my siblings and some friends (we snuck our own drinks in too!).

I haven't actually watched many movies lately so that is all I've got!


FASHION & BEAUTY

~ I am loving wearing cosy clothing as the weather gets colder! There will definitely be some autumn/winter fashion post coming soon...

~ These clips and sunglasses have been some favourite accessories of mine this month.

Talk to me!
What was you favourite movie you watched this month?


keep blooming,

On Loving Jesus above all Things // Book Excerpt

Hello darlings!

I was reading The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis during my quiet time the other today (great book by the way!) and this particular chapter just spoke to my heart.
I'm going to be sharing the entire chapter (it is quite short) here in this post with my favourite lines in bold type.

I pray this stirs your heart as it did mine and that you'll pick up this book and be inspired.

Book 2 - Counsels On the Inner Life

Chapter 7

~ On Loving Jesus above all Things ~

"Blessed is he who understands what it is to love Jesus, and to despise himself for Jesus' sake.

You must surrender all other love for His love, for Jesus desires to be loved alone, and above all things. The love of creatures is deceptive and unstable; the love of Jesus is faithful and enduring.

Whoever clings to any creature will fall with its falling; but he who holds to Jesus shall stand firm for ever. Love Him, therefore, and keep Him as your friend; for when all others desert you, He will not abandon you, nor allow you to perish at the last. 

Whether you wish for it or not, you must in the end be parted from them all. 

Hold fast to Jesus, both in life and death, and trust yourself to His faithfulness, for He alone can aid you when all others fail.

Your Beloved is of such a nature that He will not share your love with another; He desires your heart for Himself alone, and to reign there as a King on His throne. If you could empty your heart of all creatures, Jesus would delight to dwell with you.

Whatever trust you place in men rather than in Jesus is almost wholly wasted. 

Do not trust or lean on a windblown reed, for 'all flesh is as grass, and its glory will fall like the flower of the grass'.

If you look only to men's outward appearance, you will soon be deceived; for if you seek comfort or gain from others, you will often meet with loss. 

If you seek Jesus in all things, you will surely find Jesus. And if you seek yourself, you will surely find yourself, but only to your ruin.

For a man who does not seek Jesus does himself greater hurt than the whole world and all his enemies could ever do him.

What stood out to you from this chapter?

keep blooming,

Things To Do When You Are Stuck At Home

Hello darlings!

I was hesitant to do a post like this because I wasn't sure if you would be interested since it is quite a common blog post topic at the moment.
But I asked, and you answered and said yes, so here it is!

These are some fun ideas of what we could do while stuck in quarantine at home.
I wanted to come up with some original and positive ideas to help keep us happy during an unpredictable time.

Personally, I am mostly an introvert and have been home-schooled my entire life so staying at home isn't a biggie for me. I feel for you if you an extrovert and are craving to be with people and around your friends.
But I hope that these ideas help keep you have some fun, stay entertained and stop you from going too crazy!

~ ~ ~ ~

1. Have a games night with your family
Now is a great time to start spending some quality time with your family so what better way to that than a fun games night!

2. Reorganize your bookshelf (ideas here)
For my bookworm friends out there, have some fun with your bookshelves and organize them by colour or add some little nick-knacks here and there to give your shelves a fresh look.

3. Do a read-a-long of a favourite book (or a new one) with some friends
I'm thinking of doing this with a couple of my friends and to pick one of Jane Austen's books as a way to finally read one and connect with my friends at the same time.

4. Spend an afternoon creating outfits with the pieces in your wardrobe that you don't wear often
I have been wanting to do this for a while and I think now is the perfect time to get creative with the pieces in my wardrobe that I don't wear very much and find some new ways to style them.

5. Go for a prayer walk 
Go get some exercise and fresh air and spend time in prayer to tell Him what's on your heart during this crazy time.

6. Spend more time in the Word
Are you always making the excuse that you don't spend time in the Word because you're too busy?
Well, now you have time so go spend time with your Saviour!

7. Try some new recipes
I know that for me personally, I have a bunch of recipes saved on my Pinterest that I'd love to try out.
Here's the link to my foodie board on Pinterest if you need inspiration!

8. Have a fun self portrait photo shoot
Get into a cute outfit and take a bunch of snaps! If you have a sister, get her to join in and have fun with it.

9. Write letters to your friends
I'm definitely going to be staying in touch with my friends and to make it more fun I'm going to send some good old fashioned snail mail!


I hope these little ideas give you some inspiration and brighten your day!

keep blooming,

Getting Back Into The Word

Hello darlings!

I coming to you today from the couch in our living room with a post that I need and I hope that you will also benefit from it.

Since the beginning of this year, I have found it difficult to have regular quiet times with the Lord.
Now life has been full of ups and downs for me ever since December 2019 till now.
I knew that I needed Jesus in those moments but it was hard to find the time and the frame of mind to sit still and read His Word.

In the past week I have tried getting back into it, but it is still a struggle however much I crave it and need it.

So here I am today with this post where I will give myself and you ideas and motivation to get back into the Bible!


1. Spend time with Him even when you don't feel like it.
One of the biggest lessons I learnt last year was that you shouldn't depend on your feelings when it come to spending time with God. You may not feel like it but it is so important that you do it anyway. Then eventually it will become easier and He will give you a desire for His Word.


2. Change things up.
This will look different from person to person but make whatever changes you think you need to get back into reading the Word.
Maybe do it in a new place in your house or outdoors. Use a new Bible study or plan.
Start reading a Christian non-fiction book at the beginning of your quiet time.


3. Listen to worship music or hymns during the day.
I always find that listening to some Christian music uplifts and inspires me and sometimes gets me motivated to spend more time with God.


4. Pour out your heart to Him in your journal.
I recently started doing this and it has been really good. All I do is pull out my journal before I start my quiet time and answer the question God asked Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, "Where are you?"
Where are you at? Where is your heart?
Tell Him how you feel and what is on your heart. He is a caring Father who wants to know you!


5. Do a Bible study with some friends or together with others on the YouVersion Bible app.
I'm doing this at the moment and not only does it keep you and your friends accountable, it is a wonderful way to grow together and connect over the Word.


6. Make it a time you look forward to.
Make this special time with Jesus special same as you would with a friend. Make yourself comfortable, brew some tea or coffee, light a candle or turn on some fairy lights, and use some pretty stationary for your journaling.
Also remember who it is that you are meeting with. We have the privilege to meet with the King of the Universe when ever we want! And He is always there waiting for you to spend time with Him.



Do you have any thought or ideas? Share them in the comments!
I'd love to hear your thoughts and I pray that we all have the strength and grace to get back into the Word and continue in it.

keep blooming,

Why I Want To Be A Mother & Homemaker

Hello darlings!

I'm going to warn you now, what I am about to say in this post might be a little controversial and many women today wouldn't share my opinions on these topics.
But I have decided to go ahead and share what is on my heart about being a mother & homemaker and I hope that you find it interesting and inspiring all the same.

My reason for speaking about this is because I think its something that is unpopular but necessary in today's society and the women that do want to pursue the life of a mother/homemaker often feel alone in their choice of lifestyle.



My Life Dream

If you were to ask me what my biggest dream in life is, my answer wouldn't be to have a great career and a fancy apartment in the city.

No, my answer would be this, that my dream is to become a wife and mother and create a home in the country where we can grow our own food, live naturally and simply and let my kids grow up getting dirty and playing outdoors.
We'd have some chickens, maybe a cow and live of the land where we could.

This is my dream,  however counter-cultural it may be.
If you share the dream to be a mother and homemaker one day I want to tell you that that is a wonderful calling and dream and if it is the Lord' s will for you then go for it!
The world needs more women to mother and nurture the next generation in godly homes that radiate Christ.


Motherhood

Yesterday, my dad told me he had been talking with our neighbor and mention how I wanted to be a mother and stay at home etc.
The neighbor was of the opinion that that wasn't a real job. He couldn't have been farther from the truth. I believe being a mother is a job, and not an easy on at that.
As a mother, you give all of yourself to raising and nurturing your kids and that isn't easy. I know from watching my own mum and other stay-at-home mothers I know.

The call to be a mother is a Biblical one too. Often in the Bible God used mothers to accomplish His will.
I believe it is a worthy calling and if I am called to be one I intend to honor that calling.



Homemaking

A homemaker is a person who manages a home especially as a principal occupation.
A homemaker is a woman who's primary occupation is nurturing and creating a home for her family.

Personally, I enjoy creating a happy, comfortable space and nurturing my space so I love the idea of having a home to nurture and being a stay-at-home mother.
Homemaking is also a Biblical practice, like the woman mentioned in Proverbs 31!

Many women in the past lived like this and families thrived. Think Little House on the Prairie...
That simple lifestyle is a healthier than the hectic rushing around most people call normal.

Read Calico & Twine for more inspiration and info on a simpler lifestyle!


Resources

These are a bunch of women, blogs, YouTube channels and Instagram accounts that embrace motherhood, homemaking and simple living.

Milena Ciciotti YouTube

Mrs Midwest YouTube

Girl In Calico YouTube

Housewives are Not Oppressed Mrs Midwest YouTube Video
Homemaking Practices You Can Start TODAY! Mrs Midwest YouTube Video
Why I Love Being a Homemaker Mrs Midwest YouTube Video

Farmhouse on Boone Blog


So those are some of my thoughts on the matter!
What are your thoughts? Lets chat in the comments!


keep blooming,

An Autumn To Do List

Hello darlings!

With Autumn approaching fast (some might say it has already arrived), I have been thinking about some seasonal activities I want to do to get the most out of the season and enjoy it.

Each season is beautiful it its own right and so this Autumn/Winter, I want to make the most of them and learn to enjoy each day.

So I'm sharing my ideas with you and maybe you'll give some of these ideas a try too!

~ ~ ~ ~

- Go to a farmer's market

- Collect leaves to be pressed

- Decorate with dried foliage & flowers

- Make cinnamon rolls or cardamom buns

- Switch over your summer wardrobe to more winter appropriate clothes

- Make your own candles

- Bake these amazing pumpkin cookies

- Start a new knitting or crochet project

- Make a batch of chai tea (link to recipe)

- Go apple picking

- Read a mystery novel or a beloved classic

- Plant flowers that need to be planted in Autumn

- Eat your perfect bowl of porridge for breakfast

- Get some warm socks

- Have a cosy night in by the fire

- Simmer some Autumn potpourri on the stove

- Play in the leaves

- Go thrifting for warm jerseys

- Bring some baking to a neighbor or friend

keep blooming,

Good & Bad Fruit // Lesson from the Garden

Hello darlings!

Summer is coming to an end.
This was clear to me as I was out in our garden harvesting the last of the delicious plums from the tree in our backyard. They were littered all over the ground underneath the tree.
As we have been quite busy, we weren't able to keep up with the amount of plums this tree was producing.
So as I was trying to salvage as many good plums as I could from the ground I had to pick through the already rotting plums to find the good ones.

I would see a plum that looked perfectly fine but as I picked it up and turned it over I found that it was either rotten or being eaten away by half a dozen bees.

This formed an analogy in my mind.

Sometimes a Christian's life will look great on the outside or from the side they show the world but in reality they are rotting on the inside.
They put up a front, a show, to make it look as though they are following Christ but in the shadows they lead a life of sin.

Jesus called out the Pharisees and scribes on this very issue. On the outside the Pharisees appeared to lead righteous lives. But their hearts weren't in it.
They were not actively pursuing a relationship with the Lord.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness.

So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Matthew 23:27-28 (emphasis added)

Lets look at the root of this problem.

"A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit."

Matthew 7:18

I believe that this, shall we say heart condition, is a result of an 'unhealthy' or 'diseased' heart.
Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes have knowledge of God and the Bible and do all the Christian things, but in our hearts we don't personally and intimately know God and so cannot follow him well.

There needs to be a balance or head knowledge and heart knowledge in our walk with Christ.

Challenge

Here is a challenge for us all.

- Does your heart resemble a lovely juicy plum or a bad rotting plum?
- What fruit is your life producing?

"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit."

Luke 6:43

As I was reading the verse above I read further into this chapter and discovered Luke 6:45.

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45

So my point is this, if we truly treasure God and His Word and seek a relationship with him, our hearts are 'healthy' and our lives will produce fruit.

Let us all be real Jesus-loving, Christians whose lives produce much fruit the radiates Christ!

I hope my rambling made sense and that you got something out if this post.

keep blooming,

Let Me Gather My Thoughts on Little Women 2019...

Hello darlings!

It feels so nice to be back at my laptop writing blog posts for your enjoyment (I hope!).
I am quite excited for today's post, in which I will be chatting about the latest Little Women adaptation and comparing it to the beloved 1994 version--which is my personal favourite.

1994 vs. 2019

As previously mentioned, this adaptation is my favourite and one of those lovely films that warms my heart!
It is the one I've watched the most too.
I believe it captures the warmth and charm the story best and makes me want to go back to it again and again.

I'll also admit that I think Christian Bale makes the best Laurie, portraying him as the sweet, boyish character we all love from the book. Winona Ryder is a perfect Jo and brings her to the screen wonderfully aswell.

Overall, I think am quite biased as to my feelings about this version!
But now let us discuss the most recent adaptation...





As I had strong attachments to the older adaptation of the story,
I admit I was skeptical about what this new adaptation would be like.
But I was surprised, and I actually enjoyed it. I don't like it quite as much as the 1994 one but it was still pretty good.

Emma Watson, Saoirise Ronan, Eliza Scanlen, and Florence Pugh were all fabulous and played their roles wonderfully.
It took me about half of the film to get used to Timothee Chalamet as Laurie. But he was alright apart from the fact that he looks like a teenager throughout the whole film, which doesn't really work when they have all grown up, got married and there he is still looking 18 (and Chalamet is actually 24...)!

Aside from that, there was a scene where Amy is talking to Laurie and some of the things she says had a slight feminist edge to them that irritated me a little.

Other Thoughts

Costumes
This is always my favourite part about period drama films! I'll insert pictures of some of the ones that I rally liked.

Jo's outfit here is so suited to her personality!

What girl wouldn't want to attend a ball in this dress!

This might be my favourite of all of them!

Beautiful dreamy Meg!

Again, Amy has a beautiful wardrobe!

The cinematography and sets were really beautiful and well done too. I loved the scenes in the garden like the photo above and John & Meg's wedding.

Plot

The plot was done slightly differently to the other adaptations I've seen. We are introduced to the characters when Meg is already married and a lot of what happens towards the end of the book has already happened in the beginning of the film. 

Then it goes back and forth between the past when they were young to the present events unfolding.

Not sure if that made sense!

So to wrap up this post, I did enjoy this adaptation and recommend it to those who love the story or would like an introduction to the book. But I do highly suggest that if you haven't already read the book go read it right now!

The book is best and is so dear to my heart! talking about it makes me want to go back and reread it.

keep blooming,