- 12 blogs i follow -

     I spend a lot of time reading blogs. On a lazy Sunday afternoon I'll steep some loose leaf tea, prop my feet up and flip open the laptop screen. Before long I get lost in the different worlds of photography, crafting, traveling, living outdoors and so many other lifestyles I love. Because blogging and reading blogs is such a huge part of my life, I'd thought I'd share some of my favorites so you can enjoy them too! It was terribly difficult keeping the list down to 15, but if you're ravenous for more lemme know and I'll send you a looong list!

FARMING + FAMILY
Bundaflicka 
Maggie, (from Maggie's Farm in central New York), keeps detailed accounts of her lovely animals. Her writing captures the joy - as well as the hard work - of shepherding and running her own fiber craft business. Just from reading Maggie's delightful posts, I learned a lot about sheep and Swedish farming. (Notice that our blog names are pretty darn similar?)

Life at Cobble Hill Farm
Whaddya know -- another farm in New York! (Maybe I need to move there.) Staci and her family live on a micro farm and practice a simple, natural lifestyle. They make their own skincare products, raise chickens and bees, and blog about it! Look at her site to see some beautiful photos, get recipe ideas and live vicariously through their stories.

The Vine and Fig Tree
I may be a little biased, but this is my favorite farming/family blog out there. My sister Elissa blogs about their horses, raised garden beds, homemade living and her 6 ADORABLE kids. (I'm a proud auntie :)) You'll love seeing pictures of their cozy Missouri homestead and hearing about the latest equine adventure. You'll become introduced to Peshiwa and Samson and drool over pictures of home-grown food. It will make you want to move onto the +D Ranch.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Fire and Joy
"I was a writer first. Creating new worlds after bedtime, my handwritten words lit by torchlight beneath the sheets. Pouring my heart into my diary on the long bus ride to school. Writing was my outlet for my endless creative energy and an escape from all the emotions I felt. When I was writing everything in the world felt right. Like I was born to tell stories. Then I picked up a camera."

That's how Nirrimi Firebrace introduces herself. She combines her photos with raw, transparent writing - making you laugh and cry right alongside her. Nirrimi lives in Australia with her daughter Alba and travels frequently across the globe.

Rachel Barkman 
Rachel is a photographer based in Canada and her photos are always BREATHTAKING. Whether they are wedding photos, or landscape photos of the Territories, Barkman's artistic work is something to admire. And she owns a Samoyed - which is reason enough to follow her.

Andrew Kearns
Andrew Kearns does photography as his full time job. And he's darn good at it. I usually follow his PNW adventures through YouTube and Instagram, but his blog is also chock full of photo-stories. Most of my photography inspiration is drawn from his work!

TRAVEL
Trekkernaut
My bro-in-law Ben is currently working as a life-coach in Trujillo, Peru - (check out the program SKIP which stands for Supporting Kids In Peru). Ben's blog is an inspiring account of his personal testimonies, world travels and experiences with sports and kids. He address his readers directly - calling them to be "Trekkernauts" - asking us to take a stance and make "sustainable, positive" changes in the world around us. I encourage you to follow his adventures! (Because how awesome is it to live in Peru and make a difference!?)

A Dusty Olive Green
I found this blog by accident when Dad and I spent 10 days in Florence, Italy. The title is almost enough to make me want to move there! Brigitte is Danish but she has lived in Italy for the past 15 years as a blogger and lifestyle photographer. Her photos are lovely, her writing is clear and informative and she artfully captures the romance of Firenze. Jealous. Absolutely jealous.

State of Mind Studio
Cody and Lexi met each other through photography and now they are traveling throughout the country in their van. Their witty posts illustrate the less romantic facets of van life from washing laundry to getting stuck in the snow.

LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST
Miranda Leconte 
Miranda Leconte is a young woman working as a U.S. Forest Service Ranger. In a short 3 years she's accomplished several research projects, various wilderness certifications and gained a social media following of 19 thousand people. Miranda uses her knowledge and platform to fight for land conservation; her writing is witty and educational at the same time! Check out her blog and her Insta account too - there are some awesome landscape shots to look at :)

Dirtbag Darling
This outdoor journal for women is comprised of freelance articles and photography. It covers just about everything: rock climbing, kayaking, living out of a van, interviews with #defendersoffun, places to visit and outdoor gear reviews. Look at their site and scroll through some articles -- it will stir up a feeling of wanderlust. If you are a traveling writer, Dirtbag Darling accepts contributions.

Making It Beautiful | Adventures While Passing Through
Sara is an elementary school teacher in Nashville, Tennessee. (Look up Rocketship Nashville School.) She is not only a teacher, but an encourager, an explorer, an artist, a comforter, a brave-heart. Her blog brings to light the beauty of life and the joy of following Christ.

icy winter days

CHRISTMAS HAPPY LIST

| homemade egg nog | 

(see the recipe at the bottom)

| skidding around on icy sidewalks

| youtube Christmas playlists |

| ordering 5 million books off of thriftbooks.com |

(best. website. ever)

| hosting friends over for dinner |

| game nights by the glowing Christmas tree lights |

| packing for a trip to Costa Rica |

(be jealous) 

| skyping my Mother |

| laughing at my own jokes |

| doing crazy college student things |

(mainly 'cause of Charlie)

| bundling up in 4 layers of clothes |

 It's been a cozy winter so far. Cooold -- but lovely. For Advent, the husband and I have been crossing things off of our bucket list. We put up our first Christmas tree together, visited downtown St. Charles, did our Christmas shopping on Amazon and experimented with homemade eggnog.  

Somehow we ended up with (literally) 16 dozen eggs from Charlie's grandparents. Making eggnog was the obvious solution. I love eggnog -- I could live on it. This recipe makes such creamy, rich nog -- infinitely better than the stuff you buy at Wal-Mart. There's something satisfying about slurping on the foam and bragging about your abilities in the kitchen. 

1 dozen eggs

4 cups milk

2 cups heavy whipping cream

2 cups sugar

nutmeg to taste

~ Separate the yolks and the whites

Cover the whites and put them in the fridge

Whisk the yolks with sugar until it's creamy and banana colored

Beat in the milk and cream

Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour

Beat the whites until it forms stiff peaks

Fold it into the creamy mixture

Serve with nutmeg ~

*recipe is not mine -- it's from the wonderful inter webs*

In case y'all haven't heard. I am headed to Costa Rica in a next week with the Herrick fam. You won't be hearing from me for a while. BUT I will have several thousand pictures to share once we return. There will be a bombardment of jungles, beaches, volcanoes and toucans here on the blog ;) 

Till then -- stay safe m'dears and have a Merry Christmas! Praise the Lord for sending His marvelous Son!! 

living on a prayer

     God is good. Everyday I am overwhelmed with the thought of His hand guiding each individual moment in my life. And my heart is thankful - for this is a season of thanksgiving.
I am thankful for yellow maple leaves on the sidewalk.
Thankful for joyful, beautiful people pouring themselves out for others.
Thankful for the Christian folk music playlists on YouTube.
Thankful for the small opportunities. (Book clubs, dog-walking, photo shoots, small town festivals and worship services.)

     These days I spend lots of hours at my bank job. I can't complain - my coworkers are lovely people who live on chocolate and scentsy hand lotions. They never can remember my name; I've now become "Lauren" and "Lorelai" on a consistent basis. It makes me laugh.
Charlie and I spend most of the days apart -- either working or doing school work -- so our evenings are precious. He will fill a couple of wine glasses with grape juice, (because actual wine is just gross), and I will pop in a movie rental. Or, we'll go for a moonlit walk, talking and trying not to step on the record-sized slugs. How romantic.
     One night, Charlie brought home an abandoned, skinny white cat. We fed her and named her "Todd" even though it's against the apartment policy to keep pets. That was two weeks ago and we still can't find a new home for her. (The humane society is full.)  But hope is not lost. Surely someone wants a bipolar cat with chocolate ice cream mysteriously dried onto her head!
     Otherwise, life is pretty even-keel. I shall let you know if anything pops up in the future dear readers. Until then - love passionately and make beautiful things.

p.s. I am collecting quotes. Please send me your favorite scripture, song lyrics, quip or philosophical thought.

dunewood campground

-there is writing at the bottom. you just have to sift through all my pictures first :) - 

campfire beans!! nuthing like it. 

Every morning started out at 45° F and a bitter cold shower. 

     Husband and I went for a 3 day trip to Indiana Dunes State Park. Between skipping along the beach, cooking our own campfire meals and picking raspberries we were able to find some time for journaling. I selected a few excerpts to share with y'all. Hopefully they will give you a glimpse into our little sandy paradise!

CHARLIE
"My lovely wife sits to my right. We are on the Kemil Beach of Lake Michigan, listening to the brass winds and thudding drums of the surf. Though the seagulls beat us here, and some old folks with old dogs, I think we found a wonderful hideaway up in the north." 

"Sunday night vespers by the campfire. The kidney/pinto beans have been eaten heartily. Today we escapaded to Michigan City, then to Saugatuk and then to Holland ... Tonight's our last night here at Dunewood. So long campground, I'm sure we'll see ya in the future!" 

LAUREL
"Charlie and I are at the beach. Wet feet, sandy butts and windswept hair. Right now it is around 6pm, so the sunlight is golden, the air is still warm and there are people here and there - sprinkled across the shoreline watching the surf like seagulls." 

"Charlie ordered us some coffee and chocolate chip cookies for breakfast. South Haven was such a lovely town - I was ready to buy some real estate and settle down ... Holland Harbor had a bright red lighthouse that was built in 1847 (?) (not too good with dates) ... we walked out onto the pier and watched sailboats for a while. Beautiful, white, poetic triangles skimming the cerulean blue." 

"I have about a million pictures that I want to take home and edit and about a million more yet to take. It is our last night there and we are out of clean clothes. That is all. Goodnight." 

apple-picking + life

APPLE THOUGHTS W/ CHARLIE

1. we all have cores. exercise them
2. don't skip the apples on the ground. that's where I found the best ones.
3. if you go to the orchard with brothers BE ON YOUR GUARD. there might be chewed up apple being spewed at you.
4. an apple a day ain't so bad really.
5. they say money can't buy happiness, but it does buy apples.

> These fall days have been full. Full of happiness and exploration. Full of planning and remembering. There has been a little bit of stress - (where the heck did my insurance card go? how are we going to replace the broken car window?), but obstacles are nothing compared to the daily joy of living and loving. This Thursday I am joining a women's Bible study. The small group meets at Adam Bros Coffee and discusses chapters from the book "Without Rival" by Lisa Bevere. I could not be more exciting about finally venturing into the community and making connections!

> Traveling has been a surfacing passion in our lives. Charlie and I are planning a weekend camping trip to Indiana Dune State Park where we can absorb some fall weather, live out of a tent and do some birding in the marshes. Also, this winter, we are traveling with some family to Costa Rica for two weeks! Charlie is taking a Spanish class this semester and I am relying on my "two years" of Spanish from high school. We are so stoked for some beaches, jungles and city markets.
This evening a new traveling opportunity was presented to us. Two wonderful women sat down with us to tell us about United World Missions and the Avance program in Mexico City. It was a lot of information to take in. I had a hard time containing my excitement, but at the same time I knew that a decision like this would take loads of prayer and thought. Next summer will be a pivotal time for me and Charlie and we want to seize it. We are feeling called to serve in some ministerial capacity somewhere, somehow. God will give us guidance - I am sure of that; we just need to open our hearts to Him.

> Otherwise, our lives have been filled with the ordinary, daily tasks that never end. Laundry, dishes, cooking, homework... They all serve a good purpose no matter how small the chore. And there is joy in good purpose.
Stay tuned for an update on our Indiana Adventures!!

{fall bucket list}

     FALL BUCKET LIST

1. Make English Wassail   Nov. 23
2. Go to Mills Apple Orchard Oct. 2
3. Make pumpkin flavored ice cream
4. Create blog post series
5. Refurbish something old
6. Have a photo shoot Nov. 12
7. Travel somewhere I've never been before
8. Paint barn wood signs
9. Go on a hayride Nov. 12
10. Design a t-shirt with Charlie
11. Go star gazing in the convertible  Sep. 19
12. Go camping/try out the camping hammock
13. Write cards to 3 friends/family members  Sep. 12
14. Make a scarf out of old sweater/shirt
15. Buy a beanie and wear it :)  Nov. 11

{backyard party}

~HOW TO HOST A BACKYARD PARTY~

1. Spend 2 hours on Pinterest looking for decorating and entertainment ideas.

This step is crucial to the planning process. You want to make perfectly sure that your table decorations and backyard games are trendy, visually attractive and entertaining. Giant Jenga is always a safe option, as are sparklers, and Frisbee. 

2. Don't put a lot of planning into the event. 

After spending an exorbitant amount of time on Pinterest, there's not much left to do! Tables are easily made out of plywood and saw horses, camping chairs/wooden stumps provide seating and blankets can be laid out on the grass for children. Make sure you have plenty of food, scrounge up some wood for a fire and you're good to go. 

3. Use Christmas lights for ambiance. 

You want your guests to feel like they are in the backyard of a mansion in up-state New York - not some ranch-style home in  Missouri. Christmas lights help create this effect. Just make sure you do not exceed the amperage limit on the fuse or your lights will do weird blinky things.  

4. Make a last minute trip to Dollar General for necessary items. 

While you were stringing up the lights, you probably realized that there are still mosquitoes infesting the yard. Drive to DG ten minutes before your guests arrive to buy citronella candles and chocolate. 

5. Provide sparklers. 

Both adults and children love sparklers, plus the sparks make for beautiful pictures. It is a festive way to close out the night! 

hullo greenville

view from the back deck

The hardest part of moving to a different home is getting used to the sounds.
Instead of coyotes howling in the ravine, I hear trains blasting through the night. Rather than peaceful afternoon silence, there are children playing in the street and lawn mowers. Even our apartment has noises - creaky floors and whirring ceiling fans. It kind of reminds me of the Big House in Norton. All it needs is a Persian rug.
It is different.
But I am slowly falling in love with it. I am learning how to accept change.
Charlie's classes have started up so I spend most of my days job-searching, cooking and making daily trips to the library. Looking for work is tough - there are not many jobs here. Every once in a while I start stressing out about money even though I know I shouldn't. I'm learning to trust in God's provision.
The Carnegie Library is a lifesaver. I usually grab a travel book and settle down in an over-sized armchair. I find all the castles in England that are for sale and decide which one I would buy. Sometimes a village comes with the package, other times farmland. The castles that have ivy all over the walls are my favorite.
One day, on my way home from the library I stop by a promising book mart. There are quaint signs out front and lovely window displays; opening the heavy wooden door sets off a silver bell. Everything about it is delightful..... until I realize that their entire inventory consists of paperback romance novels. Disgusting.... I need to start my own bookstore and sell wholesome literature!
By evening time Charlie and I are both tired. Dinners usually consist of homemade artisan bread, and chicken soup. Or hamburgers. There's no shortage of food in our pantry so there's a lot of decision making that goes into each meal. We plop onto the floral couch with our food and talk about our separate days - what was good and who we ran into.
Last week Charlie bought Trivial Pursuit at the thrift store for a quarter. I think some of the cards are missing, but we don't mind. We'll stay up till midnight - my love and I - reading trivia questions by lamplight.
Life is good. It is hard sometimes, but Charlie and I are figuring it out by the grace of God.
We are loving, laughing and leaning into God's promise:

"I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye." - Psalm 32:8

my day

Sunbathing in my expensive blue swimsuit
Planning future writing and photography projects
Enjoying my new bobbed haircut
Wishing I had a few extra thousand dollars
Missing my fiancé
Crying over a happy video on Facebook
Thinking about decoration ideas for the wedding
Wondering when my car is going to be fixed
Trying to consider my blessings instead of negative thoughts
Praying for peace
Reading some pretty rad travel magazines
Writing in my journal
Imagining my life in 10 years
Scheming ways to travel a lot this summer
Texting my friends
Soaking in the beauty of this day
Remembering the stories of yesterday
Living Life.

What does today hold in store for you?

st. louis date

Brambleberry ice cream at Jeni's? Yes please. 

T.S. Eliot poetry from Left Bank Books? Of course. 

Bellefontaine Cemetery 

Art Museum

Left Bank Books

and Jeni's Ice Cream. 

    Where do I even begin? How do I describe our little sliver of Sunday happiness? I want to share everything about it. Like the picnic in the cemetery - (peaches, popcorn, mineral water and bagels.) Everything was spread out perfectly on the white cotton blanket and I felt like one of Renoir's picnic paintings had come to life. Then, we walked about looking at the names of historical figures on tombstones. We never did find the burial sites of William Clark and Sara Teasdale, but we did find some strawberries. 

     When our legs got tired from walking so long, I read the google map instructions to Charlie and he drove the silver Solera. The directions weren't very good and we got lost. Or perhaps we weren't paying very close attention to the map: (Charlie was holding my hand and I was telling stories about Mosi.) Somehow we arrived at the art museum, but not without several u-turns and backtracking. 

     Next came the second hand bookstore on Euclid St. Using torn notebook pages, Charlie and I wrote notes to future readers that we stuck inside our favorite books. (I did anyways. Charlie chose more sinister books that he had never read.) I purchased a book of Eliot's poetry. 

“Now that lilacs are in bloom

She has a bowl of lilacs in her room

And twists one in her fingers while she talks." 

- Eliot. 

     Cold, expensive ice cream concluded our date. Flavors of bramble berry and chocolate and pistachio blended together in crisp waffle cones. I wonder what people thought of us - two lovers sitting in the window seat, laughing and reading the printed napkins. Whoever saw us, we didn't pay much attention to them.

     At the point of dusk Charlie and I parted ways. Our day was full and long and happy -- a foretaste of the lifestyle we hope to lead.