So, I like a lot of things...

Apparently, I like a lot of things. I should just start a series of posts chronicling them all. Maybe this will become a once-a-week thing (except I need to come up with new stuff to say in between...). We'll see. For now:

Evernote. I love Evernote. I use it for absolutely everything. Seriously.

• Class notes
• Blog posts that I like (via ifttt--another handy online tool)
• Recipes
• Blog post ideas (everything you see here begins there)
• Random ideas that come to mind
• DIY stuff
• Clips of interior design inspiration
• Graphic design inspiration
• Important information to remember
• Random stupid stuff I have nowhere else to store
• PDFs--that way, they take up zero space on my computer

It's awesome. I have a couple of folders that I share with people (very useful when you've already taken a class and a friend is missing some notes), and of course, being me, I have everything organized as much as humanly possibly, making it all super easy to find. Best part: it syncs everything between your computer, phone, and online. If you make a change on one, it changes it on all of them. Basically, you can access all of your information from literally anywhere. Love. It.*

Fireflies. One of my new favorite things to do: sit on my back patio in the evening and watch HUNDREDS of fireflies light up the yard. So, so amazing. One of the many reasons to love summertime.

Ridiculous real-life quotes. Guys. My life is so ridiculous sometimes. Oh, the things I hear and see… I finally started keeping a list (in Evernote, of course). I can't share all of them**, but here's a few anonymous mentionables (I promise all of these are real and said in all seriousness. The people weren't trying to be funny):

"If you come in my house and shoot me, I'm gonna be real mad. If you shoot me and kill me, though, I'm gonna be real, REAL mad."

* * *

In my Environmental Science class...  
Professor: "So what about the California ecosystem, around LA? What do think of?"
Student: "The Hollywood sign?"

* * * 

While watching a video in class of a guy free diving:
Student: "How do we see him if he's underwater? Does he have a camera?"

* * *

Overhearing a waitress at IHOP...
"I was out in New Mexico, working with that Mayan calendar. It was jumping around and I was trying to get it under control and before, I knew it, I'd eaten a whole bag of Doritos."

* * * 

Hence why I both love and hate people simultaneously. 

Iced coffee. Cannot get enough. I like hot coffee, too, but if ever given the choice (midwinter or not), I will almost always go for iced. So wonderful. I found some iced latte mix packets from International Delight that are pretty good--just mix it into your milk, add ice (if you want) and go. They're fairly cheap, too. I'm a fan.

Apartment Therapy. Best design blog ever. (Okay, I'd probably say that about a lot of blogs…but for real, this one is awesome.) Lots of advice and lots and lots of inspiration. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

Yes? Yes.

So, what things have you been liking lately? Please share--I need entertainment this summer!

*I am aware that I sound like an Evernote commercial. Unintentional. I really do just love it that much.
**This includes some of the best, unfortunately. If you're really interested, talk to me--I might be willing to share outside the public blogosphere ;)

Be still.

Listening to: "Crazy Girl" by Eli Young Band
I have been in a HUGE country mood lately. It's such perfect music for summer. This band is one of my favorites for sure!

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find peace in You.”

- Augustine's Confessions

A year ago, I wrote about my need to simply be still, to know that God was and is in control, to just trust.

A year later, not much has changed.

Scratch that--pretty much everything has changed (thank. God. SERIOUSLY). But that is one thing that does remain the same. I'm at a very, very different place in life now than I was then, but my need to be still and rest only in Him is still huge. It's still difficult.

I am not the kind of person who thrives on busyness. Quite frankly, I think this need that everyone seems to have to be crazy busy all the time is ridiculous.* However, as much as I don't generally want to be busy 24/7, lately, I've wanted to avoid being alone, sitting, having time to hear myself think. Because when I'm alone, that's when the thoughts and the fears start to come, and I just want to get away, to have someone, so I don't have to think about it.

Fear can be so pervasive. Scars can run deeper than you think. When it's just me and God, when I don't have the option of turning to someone else, it means I have to look certain things square in the eye and deal with them…like the fact that I sometimes struggle to trust Him, because I know that trusting Him sometimes leads to very painful places. Beautiful places, yes, but painful ones as well (usually, it's both simultaneously). I get scared of what comes next. I get scared of where loving Him most might lead me. I get scared that I won't be able to love Him most!

And that's when grace comes in. Again. And accepting grace means I have to be still and trust Him and let Him love me and prove over and over again that He is good.

He isn't safe--never safe--but He is very, very good.

Because of that, I can choose to rest in Him and let Him help me face all my fears. I can trust that, however He chooses to go about it, He will always keep His promises. He will always give me His very best.

"You don't have to feel safe to feel unafraid."
- "Lions!" by LIGHTS

Also: this song. So good.

"When darkness comes upon you
And covers you with fear and shame
Be still and know that I'm with you
And I will say your name

Be still and know that I'm with you
Be still and know I am."
- "Be Still" by The Fray

*Obviously, I understand that every person is different, but when it gets to the point where all you talk about is how busy you are and have these weird conversations that imply whoever has the busiest schedule is somehow superior… I think it's safe to say there's a problem. It's one thing to be unavoidably busy. Everyone has those times. My entire last semester was one of those times! However, it's quite another to choose to be ridiculously busy all. the. time. and then complain about it every waking moment. One of my biggest pet peeves ever. (I could vent about this for awhile, because it's something that frustrates me a lot, but…I'll spare you. I just hate the pressure to be busy for the sake of being busy! The fact that I choose to say no to filling up every minute of my schedule does not mean that I am lazy or inferior. End mini rant.) (P.S. I know approximately a billion people who do this. It's kind of a general American cultural thing, it seems. In other words, don't think I'm attacking anyone. This isn't being directed at any individual. Promise!)

(More) Things I Like

I am long overdue for a "Things I Like" post. Here's some things that I've been liking a lot lately!

• "In Christ, urgent means slow…" Some good things to remember here. I've made a bad habit of getting caught up in the busyness of life that I forget what's most important. It's cliche to say, I know, but to really live it is difficult--and more necessary than we know.  

• Pure Home.  OH MY GOSH, this site is amazing! One of the coolest home decor sites ever. You pick your style, your mood, and your room, and it helps you choose your colors and accessories. Seriously, go check it out. 

• Kohl's frames. Kohl's has been having some crazy good sales on their home decor and such. I got a $40 set of 6 (really nice) frames for $13, a $50 6-frame photo ledge set for $10 (and used Kohl's cash so essentially got it for free), and this wonderful (and oh-so-me!) bird-and-branches frame for $7:

I might have a slight obsession with frames.
And pictures. The more, the merrier (until you
can't see your walls--then it might be a problem)!

• This print. So cute.

via Handz Etsy shop

• This fun workspace. 

(via Lovely Undergrad)

• Cubicle shelving. Currently wanting one of these in black.

(via Lovely Undergrad)

• Log planter! How cool would it be to DIY one of these with a real log?

(via Pure Home)

• A photo book of Instagrams. Love this idea.

(via That's Happy)

• "Vergangenheit (Loss)" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I love this poem. I can relate to it so very well, and can attest that this is true:

"That which is past will return to you again
as your life's most living strain,
through thanks and repentance.
Lay hold on God's forgiveness in the past,
pray that He will care for you this day and to the last."