ex(PR)essed

What’s your personal style? Don’t know? Me either.

I just came from a shopping trip at Pier 1. I had a gift card, and they had lovely things. It was a match made in heaven! I definitely like Pier 1, but I wouldn’t go so far as to say that they’re an exact match with my style. While there were more things on the shelves and on display that I liked very much, there were also plenty of pieces that didn’t suit my taste at all.

I’ve often wondered about my personal style and even lamented to people that I don’t can’t seem to define mine. My house is a hodge-podge of antique store-finds, big-box store stuff that everyone else has too, and family memory pieces. I cringe when people describe it as ”country,” even though it’s certianly closer to country than modern/sophisticated/trendy.

I guess I’m becoming ok with having a style that does not have an easily -recognized label. I doubt that people who hang out with me at church or work are surprised when they see the way my home is decorated. At least I hope they’re not!  My hodge-podge decorating style is, perhaps, just consistent with who I am — a girl with lots of interests and curiosities who both likes digging around in dusty antique stores and shopping under the bright lights of Target.

I think part of the reason I’ve felt especially creative this month is simply because we have had few weekend plans and lots of time at home. With a clean house and stocked, I’m much more likely to make guilt-free time to hang out in the craft room. Our next two months don’t look nearly as free, so it will be interesting to see whether I’m able to maintain the same level of productivity.

I’m working on Adele’s second scrapbook these days. This album starts immediately after her first birthday. I haven’t been scrapping chronologically, but I have done quite a few pages that I’m pleased with. Most of all, I’ve given myself the freedom to not strive for perfection. It’s been absolutely freeing to not waste time figuring out how to cover up extra ink transferred from the corner of an alphabet stamp. You’ll see plenty of imperfections on these pages, and I’m ok with that! What’s most important is that the story is being told. The moment is captured, and someday Adele will be able to relive it through her mommy’s eyes. It’s all good. Thanks, Ali Edwards!

So the same day that I blogged about the book “Julie and Juila”, I saw the movie. I had high expectations for the movie. Several people had told me that it was a cute, and a frigid, sniffly Saturday night seemed like the perfect time to watch a fun movie with my husband.

About three-quarters of the way through, Jeff and I both wondered aloud if the movie was close to over. Bad sign.

The movie really wasn’t similar to the book at all, which made me wonder if I’m just far too literal to enjoy movies based on books. I did enjoy the portions of the movie devoted to Julia Child much more than the brief sections of the book about the legendary chef. But, I still didn’t like the Julie character at all, and it’s not even like she was similar to the Juile in the book. The Juile of the movie was b-o-r-i-n-g. Actually, I guess I found the whole movie a bit on the snoozy side.

Oh well. Not every film can be as complete and wonderful as the A&E version of “Pride and Prejudice!”

I’m reading “Gone with the Wind” now. Given what you know about me, do you think I should see the movie too?

Jeff bought me the book “Julie and Julia” for Christmas. It was a nice surprise. The book wasn’t on my reading list, but it was on my “movies-to-see” list, and since the rate at which we watch movies is ridiculous (we haven’t been to the theater since “Charlie Wilson’s War”), he probably thought I would be more likely to read the book. He was right.

Shortly after Christmas, I finally gave myself permission to put “Eat, Pray, Love” back on the shelf — unfinished. I just couldn’t get into that book. I liked Elizabeth Gilbert’s writing style, but the whole idea of leaving behind real life to travel around the world was beyond my comprehension. I just couldn’t embrace the character, and, in my old age, I’ve started giving myself permission to abandon books in the middle. (Go me!)

So, “Julie and Julia” was ok. Yep, that’s about all the enthusiasm I can muster for this book. The book is a memoir, written by Julie Powell who spent a year working her way through all the recipes in Julia Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking.” So, the author is obviously the main character, and I really didn’t like her. She was rude and brash; foul-mouthed and grumpy. But, the book was written in such a way that it definitely held my attention. I found myself easily reading 30 or so pages at a time before bed, an accomplishment for someone who usually nods off before getting to the table of contents in a magazine!

Yet, I felt no attachment to this book or its story. I really didn’t care whether Julie completed her mission or not. But,  I was interested in the cooking aspect of the plot — the moments spent in the kitchen doing any number of hideous things that I would never even dream of to chickens, cows, and ducks.

All in all, I still hope to see the movie (I have it in my possession even as I type this), but I will be adding this book to my donate pile.

Last year I took a spiritual gifts inventory. I thought it came back with disappointing results. I had about six gifts all within one point of each other. It didn’t tell me anything about myself or my gifts, I said.

I was wrong.

It told me that my gifts–in a tie for first place–were showing mercy and service. My pastor disputed my skepiticism. And, I started thinking about my years in the church and as a believer and considering the projects and moments in which I felt closest and most useful to God, and it was in moments of service! Yay! My inventory was correct.

Ever since, I’ve been thinking a lot about the spiritual gift of service and what it really looks like for me and my walk with the Lord. I have some ideas, and I’m trying out a new role or two at church this year in hopes of further refining how I can be most effective for the Lord, for his church, and for the lost. I’ll keep you posted.

Anyhow, I was delighted when my sweet friend Laurie called my attention to the Etsy project, Share Your Love. Etsy, a site that sells only handmade goodies, is seeking people to make valentines for the more than 18,000 elderly residents of New York City who receive Meals on Wheels. This project is SO up my alley! What a great way to combine my word of the year — creative — with my spiritual gift — service!

So, friends, stay tuned! I’m hoping to host a card-making party at my house (and perhaps at work too). I’d like to bundle a whole bunch of lovingly made, cheery little Valentines to send to the sweet grandmas and grandpas of NYC. Won’t you join me?

I think part of the reason that I’m feeling more creative and inspired in this new year is because of this awesome space that I’ve carved out for myself in our new house. Fortunately for me, I’m able to have my own crafting room. The space that was available to me in this house for such a purpose exceeded my expectations, and it sat empty and white-walled for quite awhile until I could decide how to paint, arrange, and decorate the room.

I wavered on what color to paint the walls and then finally followed my first (and best!) instinct and went with a shade of green. I’m a girl who loves green. Why try to convince myself otherwise by painting the one room in the house that is completely mine some other color?! Exactly. So, green it is.

I repurposed some furniture from our old house, bought two new pieces for cheap at  Big Lots, and landed an awesome old, red toolbox at an antique store. I really couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.

So, here are a few photos in case you need a little inspiration of your own these days.  I’m even sharing a glimpse of my table as I work on a page in Adele’s album. Just being in this room getse my creative juices flowing!

Every year around this time, I get excited by the idea of a fresh start in a new year.  I don’t necessarily makes lists of resolutions, but I always try to envision myself in the coming year and to anticipate what goals and priorities I might want to set for my life. In the past two weeks, I’ve been really stewing over the Beth I want to be in 2011. And once I get over imaging myself as super skinny, I start to really identify what’s realistic for me and important for my family.

So, in no particular order, here’s what I’m thinking about for 2011.

1. Creativity. I keep coming back to this. I read a handful blogs daily, and they’re each written by women about my age who are working from home and creating. Some are focused on photography, some on scrapbooking, some on cooking, and some on raising a family. But there are creative elements of their lives that I really admire. Couple that with my overwhelming desire to capture life in a scrapbook, and I’m feeling very focused on being creative this year. As a matter of fact, if I were choosing one word for 2011 (as Ali Edwards does each year), I think I would choose creative.

2. In my mind, “creative” in my life applies to more than just piecing paper together for a scrapbook. I want to think creatively about my job, my marriage, and my parenting. I want to be bold in my hospitality — worrying less about a clean house and more about relationships. I want to be fearless in the kitchen. I want to be creatively connected to people by sharing homemade and handmade goodies.

3. We are the newbies in our neighborhood, and I declare spring/summer 2011 as the season of getting to know the people we share a street with. It’s a goal of mine that by next year at this time, we will have a meaningful relationship with at least one neighbor/family. That means more than just a silent wave as we both get in our cars in the morning. I want to know them personally and be invested in their life.

4. General good health. I’m not talking about specific weight loss or exercise goals because I don’t have them. I am talking about just moving towards a healthier lifestyle. That might mean nightly walks with with Adele through the neighborhood in warmer weather. It might mean less ice cream. It might mean more salads. I don’t totally know. Greater health for me also means, by the way, a deeper, closer relationship with God. I don’t want to say that means daily devotionals or lengthy prayer times. Both those disciplines are very important, but I long to just be more aware of God — to see and acknowledge him in the day-to-day stuff, in the Sunday morning worship, in encouragement offered by a co-worker, and in the food on my table.

5. Finally, I guess my last point of focus for the new year is relationships. In many ways, all of my above-mentioned goals can point back to this one, and I hope that they do. Specifically, I hope that my marriage will be healthier,  my friendships deeper, and my family relationships stronger.

I like clean slates. I like the potential they represent. Therefore, I’m pleased to welcome 2011 and all the potential it promises with open arms.