You Can Do That Thing You've Been Wanting to Do! (Mug-spiration Monday)

It's that time again- the time where we shuffle out of bed to the sound of our alarm, sleepy-eyed and yawning. Our day holds so much potential for goodness, but all we can think about is coffee....or is that just me? 😜

Once we get our coffee going and wake up a little, it's time to really start the day. We can't predict for sure what type of day it will be. With all the unknowns in life, there's only so much we can control. 

We can't control the weather, we can't control the traffic, we can't control our co-worker's attitudes, or our boss' mood. We can't control that the drive-thru line at Wendy's took up half of our break, or that the car in front of us on the way home is driving 10 under the speed limit.

But today I don't want to talk about what we can't control. Instead, I'd like to talk about something you can control.

I know that it sounds simplistic, but no matter what is going on in life, you can still chase after your dreams. You can make decisions that lead you closer to where you want to be. Whether it be a choice to take the stairs instead of the elevator to aid in weight-loss, choosing to read before bed instead of watching Netflix for the third hour in a row, or dedicating 30 minutes per day to work on your novel, you can work towards those goals.

Sometimes life get's really, really tough. We can go through so hard things and feel like we can't keep our heads above water, but even then we can take baby steps. We don't always have to take huge strides in order to be achieving something.

From something as small as an unkind word from a co-worker, to something as tumultuous as losing a loved-one, we don't have to give in even then. Obviously, a more extreme circumstance like losing a loved-one may require taking a little break. But no matter what our life holds, we still have little choices to make every day.

We can choose to do our best in everything we do.

We can choose productivity over laziness.

We can choose to look for the good when all seems bad.

We can choose to chase our dreams when they seem impossible or far away.

Remember that you are strong and can overcome difficult situations.

Remember that God's power works within your weakness.

Remember that you are talented.

Remember that you are passionate about your dreams for a reason.

Remember that failure doesn't mean you have no talent- rather, it's an opportunity to learn and grow.

Remember that you can't get where you want to go unless you take the first step.

Remember to actively chase your dreams. Why? Because you can. Because you should. Because you are able. And because you have the freedom and privilege to do so. So stop making excuses. Stop putting it off. You can chase your dreams. So go do it.

Wishing you had more encouragement in your life? Or wishing you were better at encouraging others? I've gotcha covered! Sign up for my weekly newsletter and you'll receive my free, 3-day devotional that's all about becoming a more encouraged and encouraging person!

Encouraging Resources for Your Health and Weight-loss Journey

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click them and purchase something, I will make money to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting TPT!

Guess what...we are almost to March and I haven't weighed yet. Since one of my goals was weight loss, I probably should see how I am doing, but at the same time, I haven't been too worried about it since I am also trying to develop healthy habits that will last instead of a diet just for shedding pounds.

But I do want to get more of a routine down. I want to take what I know I need to do, and put it into action- always easier said than done! But one of the ways I stay encouraged is through other people who are way better at this fitness/health journey than I am.

Earlier this year I gave you a list of uplifting people and resources that have been encouraging me on my journey, and today I am sharing a few things that I am going to try to implement over the next couple of weeks. So grab a cup of coffee (I'm having Peet's Coffee in French Roast 😊) and check out what I'm giving a try!

1.) A few nights ago I got on a "health kick". I worked out, cooked a healthy meal, and watched Youtube videos by doctors and fitness vloggers. Dr. Eric Berg was discussing apple cider vinegar, why it helps people lose weight, and why many people should be drinking it daily.

It's not the most exciting video in the world, but it is very interesting and helpful. I plan to drink ACV at least several times per week for a couple of weeks and see if I can tell any difference.

2.) I found this video by Kim July and decided to share it with you simply because I find it helpful to see what people who are health-conscious eat in a day. I want to see portion sizes, grocery hauls, etc.

I find that just seeing/reading about other people being healthy makes me want to be healthy too. Call it a helpful version of monkey-see-monkey-do! So I hope it will have the same effect on you.


3.) I stumbled upon a blog post the other day called, "10 Markings of a Godly Woman". The article wasn't about fitness, health, or weight loss, but as I was skimming through the post quickly to get the gist of it, my eyes landed on the following quote:

"God, the Holy Spirit, is living inside of you, and your body is His dwelling place to do His work on this earth."

This really struck me in two capacities: 1.) this is how much we should love God. We should be a vessel to do whatever will most benefit His glory. But that is another post entirely, so 2.) we should be taking care of our bodies so that we can continue on doing God's work. When our bodies are tired, weak, and unhealthy, we cannot do nearly what we are capable of or called to.

Treasured friends, if you are trying to lose weight and get healthy like me, don't be afraid to try new things, find inspiration from those who have been in your shoes, and most importantly, remember the greater reason for your health journey.

Do you have any tips for new things to try for weight loss? Comment below.

Why We Should Respect Authority (Whether We Agree with Who's In Power or Not)

For the past few months, EVERYTHING on social media has pretty much revolved around politics. Who's more awful, more racist, uncaring, less genuine, less trust-worthy, etc. Many people were unhappy about the presidential candidates and unhappy with the election results.

Believe me, I get it! I was never a fan of either candidate, and I don't particularly love our new president. But you know what is driving me completely nutsy now? The fact that no one seems to know how to have any respect anymore.

I am well-aware that this will probably be my least-popular post to date, and I am well-aware that I am in the minority on this issue, but since it's President's Day, I decided now would be as good of a time as any to make the following statement:

If you are a Christian who claims to live by the Bible, then you need to be praying for our president and showing respect to our president.

I hate to break it to you, but it doesn't matter what political party you are a part of, or how many things about our president you don't like. If you claim the name of Jesus, then you are claiming to believe Him in all that He says to us, and you are claiming to attempt to live by what He says.

And do you know what He says about those who are in leadership? 

Daniel 2:20-21

 “Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,         For wisdom and power belong to Him.It is He who changes the times and the epochs;         He removes kings and establishes kings;         He gives wisdom to wise men         And knowledge to men of understanding."

Romans 13:1

 "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God."

1 Peter 2:13-14

 "Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right."

 1 Peter 2:18-20

"Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect, not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable. For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God."

As Christians, we believe that God is always in control. He isn't pacing the floors of Heaven going "Oh crap! What do I do now!" Instead, He's got a plan that goes far beyond anything that we can comprehend.

And the thing that sticks out to me in that truth is this: if God has a plan, and God ordains leaders for particular reasons, should we really be so upset and seething? I get being mad at the deeds of a leader you don't like, or at the injustices of the world- it's a human reaction. I get not liking a person's character or what they stand for. But you know what? Our president is also a human being with a heart, a soul, a need for grace, and a need for love. And no matter how much a person dislikes him, his policies, or anything he has done, God allowed him to be there for a reason.

The very same God that bled out on the cross for YOU and YOUR SIN chose the president. He allowed our president to be in office for a reason. So should you (and me) really be mad? Honestly?

The Other Side of the Coin

Thankfully, just because God allows something to happen, doesn't mean that He calls it "good". God allowed Hitler to become a ruler, but He did not call Hitler a good leader, good person, etc. In the same way, no matter who our president is now, four years from now, or 400 years from now, God is still the one who lets them stand in that position. (*ps- I'm not comparing our president to Hitler*)

God doesn't expect us to agree with our leadership on every little thing. It's okay to stand up for what we believe in and it's okay to think a leader is wrong on issues or as a person.

But here's what's NOT okay:

Constantly brooding over who the president is
Calling him vulgar names
Calling those who voted for him vulgar names
Causing violent protests
Cheering on other people who are spreading hate, dissension, violence, etc.
Assuming the worst about every single thing the president does
Assuming the worst about those who voted for him
Acting like you are better than others because of your political stance
Hating our leadership in your heart and wishing evil on them

Really, this list could go on forever. I usually try to keep this blog a positive place and a place free of politics. But I have become so frustrated with Christians acting like the world is ending. I have grown tired of Christians who act like Trump is God (what the heck, people!), and I have grown tired of Christians pretending it's suddenly okay to act like hate-filled children just because they don't like the president. I'm just tired.

Friends, I agree. There are a lot of things I don't like about our leadership. But I trust God, I trust His plan, and I trust that He has a very good reason for allowing Trump into office.

News Flash for the Masses

Now, for those of you nodding your heads, saying "amen", and silently condemning those who disagree, remember that all that I said above would have still been just as true if Hillary was president right now. You don't get to pick and choose your head-nods and "amens". You either agree with what I just said or you don't.

And for those of you who are fuming over this post, I would simply ask you to consider why you are mad. Are you mad because my argument is unscriptural? Or are you mad simply because you don't like what I'm saying and don't want it to be true?

Ideas for Showing Respect

The truth is, no matter where we stand (left, right, moderate, confused, etc.) if we claim the name of Jesus, we are called to respect those in authority. But how do we go about that when there is so much turmoil? Here's what I believe we can do to respect any authority figure no matter who they are or how bad their behavior is:

-Pray for them, their family, their life, and their soul

-Choose to love and forgive them in our hearts (this doesn't mean we agree with   them, it just means we are choosing to let go of hatred and wishing good things   for them instead).

-Reject and stand against all acts of violence directed towards them

-Refuse to participate in character slander (again, character slander is different  than disagreeing with their policies, stance, or way of life)

-Refuse to assume that all their motives are bad.

-Give them the grace that Jesus has given us


Thank you for sticking with me on this one and reading all the way through. My goal in writing this is not to condemn anyone, but rather to get everyone thinking about how they handle authority.

Even though I used the president as the basis for this post, the things I talked about in this post are true for any authority figure. So whether you are a student and have a teacher you cannot stand, are stuck with a terribly rude and inconsiderate boss, or cannot stand the mayor of your small town- it doesn't matter. These principles apply either way.

So today and always, choose love, choose grace, and choose respect- even for those who just don't seem to deserve it!

Swoon-Worthy Spring (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

Happy Friday, Peculiars!

I'm not gonna lie- this week has been incredibly long and boring. I've been sick pretty much all week, and so has my nanny family. Sooooo, I've been home for another full week. And despite some Virtual Assistant work, my own blog work, lots of Netflix, and trying to rest, I have still been bored.

I haven't felt well enough or creative enough to do much with new content for the blog, but I have spent a lot of time on Pinterest scheduling pins for both myself and for my VA client. And while on Pinterest, I've really been swooning over all-things-Spring. And that's exactly what I am going to be sharing with you today.

Watercolor

I have expressed my love of watercolor before, but I am really loving the fact that now that Spring is just around the corner, watercolor is reappearing in beautiful florals and pastels and lining the shelves of Michael's and Hobby Lobby. My favorites at the moment:  watercolor florals, pastel watercolors, abstract watercolor, & watercolor cactus.

All Things Coastal

Last year I talked a lot about how much I was missing the beach and dying to get back. The problem is that my longing for the sea has started even earlier this year. It's going to be months before I am able to go dip my toes into the water and splash in the waves, so for now I'll have to settle for looking at pictures of the beach and cute little coastal cottages....or that might make it worse. Ooops.

Magnolia Journal

Yesterday, I was so excited to get my Spring issue of The Magnolia Journal in the mail. I ordered a year's subscription back in October and I am so glad I did. The magazine is so nice, and the price I got on early subscription was well worth it!

Like much of America, I love Chip and JoJo. They seem to be so good at everything they try and I love the model that they set for those who keep up with them. And just as what they do on television is high-quality, so is their magazine. Obviously I'm a fan, and getting the magazine in the middle of being sick was a nice bonus too!

I hope you enjoyed these swoon-worthy, Spring links, and I hope you all have an amazing weekend.

How To Organize Your Life | 3 Tips For Staying Organized This Year

Being organized is extremely important for achieving goals and staying disciplined. Learn how to organize your life today, even if you are a naturally disorganized person.

Valentine's Day (An Open Letter to My Husband)

An open letter to my husband on Valentine's Day. Want ideas for how to thank your husband in a letter this Valentine's Day? Read this open letter to my husband on Valentine's Day for some inspiration.

Valentine's Day is tomorrow. I don't know if Taylor and I will be able to do anything or not since he has a night class, but hopefully we will find a time to do something soon. If nothing else, yesterday was really nice. We explored a new area, went to a coffee shop we'd never been to, and played disc golf at a park we discovered near the coffee shop. It was a beautiful day and we were able to spend it together. While valentines day is a good excuse to get Taylor a gift (like one of these budget-friendly valentines day gift ideas), we also just really enjoy quality time together and I'm thankful for that.

Regardless of what our Valentine's day ends up looking like, I wanted to take the time to write an open letter to my wonderful husband. Not only do I just want to brag about my husband, but I hope that this will inspire any of you who are married to recognize the good in your husband and thank him for it. Since God has taught us how to treat our spouse, it's important that we take the time to appreciate and care for them. I also hope this will inspire those of you who are single to wait for a man who treats you well- who, despite his flaws, is always there.

Dear Taylor,

Happy Valentine's Day, Handsome. I am so thankful I get to call you mine.

I'm thankful for your patience. I'm thankful that you rarely get angry when I'm dramatic, OCD, or paranoid. 

I'm thankful that you want to tell me about your day, and you want to share what's been on your mind. I may get a little bit impatient when we talk about politics for long periods of time, but I am still grateful that you share your mind with me.

I'm thankful for your heart for God. You are more intellectual and practical than I am, so sometimes I struggle to understand you, but I love the balance that creates for us. I love that you have a beautiful, trusting heart for our Savior and I love your desire to reach the un-reached, and to teach people to think through what they believe and why they believe it.

I appreciate how hard you've been working during this season of our lives. You are pursuing your dreams while still working constantly to make sure we can pay the bills. And I love that you care that I like where I work. I love that you are happy for me to work where I am happy instead of wanting me to step into the corporate world. I'm sure it would be easier on you if I did, but you've never asked that of me or expected that of me. Thank you.

Thank you for treating me with respect and being understanding of my flaws, weaknesses, and quirky character traits. 

Thank you for admitting when you're wrong, for apologizing when you've hurt my feelings, and forgiving me quickly when I've hurt you.

Thank you for seeing my beauty despite my weight and for loving me as an attractive wife. I don't always feel that way, but you let me know that I am still attractive to you.

Thank you for sticking with me through my depression, anxiety, and OCD. I know it hasn't been easy for you, but you've been a trooper.

Thank you for always forgiving me when I am bossy and naggy. I know that's one of my worst, most-common sins and I am so thankful you forgive and let it go so quickly. I'm trying to do better.

And thank you for reminding me that God loves me- that I am covered in grace, that He understands me even when I feel like He doesn't, and that my failures never change His love for me.

I love you so much, Taylor, and I hope you and I have years and years of Valentine's Days left with each other. I love walking through life with you as my husband. I'm glad I'm with you!

Love, 

Kristin

Related Post: A Budget-Friendly Valentine's Day Gifts Round-Up (For Him and Her)

3 Reasons I'm Not Giving Up Coffee

There seems to be two trends floating around out there. Trend number one is my camp: The coffee-lovers. The one's who see the beauty and full potential of those tiny, beautiful, fragrant beans! Camp number two belongs to those who have decided that they should no longer drink coffee for one reason or another: "It's bad for you", "Caffeine is killing us all", or "I like to drink _____ coffee substitute now".

For all the people in camp numero dos: you do you, Boo! There is nothing wrong with you choosing to go coffee-free. And if you are someone who is negatively affected by caffeine, then kuddos to you for recognizing that and taking care of your body. That's awesome.

But for those of us in camp number one, we feel a certain dedication to coffee- like a family member we want to keep safe. We are appalled when someone suggests we should cut back a bit (lookin' at you, hubby 😝😇😘). And we go to bed excited that we get to have coffee when we wake up.

Some may say we have a problem, but I disagree. And since this topic is just oh-so-very important 😋, today I'll be telling you 3 reasons I'm not giving up coffee.

It Connects People of All Backgrounds

How many times have you walked into Starbucks and seen a hippie, a girl in a long skirt carrying a Bible, a lesbian, and a redneck all in Starbucks at the same time? Maybe it's different when you get out of the south, but I know I have! And I think that is great!
The fact that coffee drinkers are from all sorts of backgrounds means that we can connect. I can make friends with the lady at the table next to mine regardless of how different we may be.
The same is true for people on social media who somehow always find their way to the coffee posts. All different religions, politics, ethnicities, etc. all liking and commenting on one single post simply because it's about coffee. And that is kind of cool in my opinion!

I appreciate the opportunities I've had to experience new things and meet new people because of my coffee habits, and that in itself is a good reason not to give it up.

Food (or beverages) SHOULD Be Enjoyed

Food and beverages definitely get idolized sometimes. We make food our comfort when we are depressed. We take advantage of food and make it all about how we love to eat instead of about our nutrition. I get that, and I agree that we should not become glutenous monsters who neglect our health for the sake of copious amounts of junk food.

But I also believe that food and drinks were meant to be enjoyed. That's not the point of them, but I still believe that God gave us good tasting food (and the minds to create other good tasting food) for a reason.

I'm not on any diet, and I am still having a hard time with self-control, but I do think that people who do the 80/20 rule (80% healthy and in line with their diet, 20% not) are on the right track. And 9 times out of 10, coffee would end up being my 20%. I can give up a whole lot of other stuff that needs to leave my diet, without needing to feel guilty about that 2nd (or 3rd, or 4th) cup of coffee.
There are tons of Bible verses that point to the deliciousness of food and drinks (in a positive manner), and none of the verses that address gluttony give any indication that it's wrong to enjoy food. And seeing that God gives us things all the time that are not necessary but are for our enjoyment, I'd say that God doesn't mind food and drinks being in that category either.

I Just Don't Want To

Look, I just really like coffee. I never want it to be too high a priority in my life and the times that that has happened, I've tried to correct it. But guess what- as long as I am keeping everything in right balance, taking care of myself, and taking care of my health, there's no law that says I cannot be a little, tiny bit obsessed with coffee. Capisce?

Guess what, friends! Even if you aren't a coffee-drinker (whatever the reason), we are so blessed to have things that we enjoy. Whether it's Crossfit, bacon and waffles, Netflix, journaling, or fill-in-the-blank, we all have that thing that we just can't get enough of. Enjoy it. Don't idolize it, obsess over it, or get your priorities all wonky, but seriously, enjoy it. I'm certainly going to keep on enjoying my butt-sized coffee!

My 3 Favorite Self-Care Rituals That Have Nothing to Do With Technology

*This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you click them and purchase something, I will make money to support this blog at no additional cost to you. Thanks for supporting TPT!

You know what I am seeing a lot of these days? Blog posts and magazine articles dedicated to the topic of self care. Articles and posts that are focusing on the fact that we need to take care of ourselves and make ourselves a priority.

Technically, this idea could be taken too far if we aren't careful, but I am appreciate that people are realizing that in order to live life as the peculiar treasures we were meant to be, we have to invest in ourselves.

We can't help others, give our all all of the time, and go-go-go constantly and expect to have a full life. Why? Because when we stop taking care of ourselves, there is quickly nothing left to give. And that's why having self-care rituals that we practice consistently is so important.

Need some ideas on how to care for yourself? I've got your back!

Paint my nails

I'm going to be honest here- I actually find painting my nails a little bit stressful in the moment. I'm not very good at it, so I usually have to back-track and correct my mistakes. BUT, and this is a big but, once it's done, I almost always feel better. I feel more feminine, pretty, and put together. I feel cared for. Ha! Imagine that! 😉

This winter, I have almost exclusively worn Bahama Mama by Essie. I absolutely love the color, and it is seriously one of the best nail polishes I've ever had. And for the Spring, I've been eyeing Where's My Chauffeur. So stinkin' pretty, right?

Read in Bed

I don't do this NEARLY enough. I always try to work on blog tasks and I never just lay in bed and read someone else's work. But I know that 1.) reading is relaxing and good for me, and 2.) I probably wouldn't struggle with writer's block as much if I took time to read.

Reading also has a calming effect on many people. So if you have trouble calming down in the evenings, you may want to start reading before bed.

There is one book in particular that I absolutely love but have been reading since last May 🙈. It's called Wild and Free, and I think that pretty much any woman in her 20's-30's would benefit from it. It's all about realizing who we were created to be- women who are free in Christ and free from shame. Seriously amazing!

Soak in the Tub

This is something I have done for many, many years. I love how it feels to sink down into a hot bath, the smell of bath salts, bombs, or bubbles filling the air. If I have bath salts, I like to combine them with a few of lavender essential oils and a tiny splash of organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar.

The vinegar has cleansing properties and is fantastic for your skin, the lavender is calming, and the bath salts help a tired and achy body.

Sometimes I like to read a magazine (my favorites are Good Housekeeping, The Magnolia Journal, and Woman's Day). Sometimes I like to read a book or a chapter in the Bible. Sometimes I like to play Candy Crush and hope I don't drop my phone in the water. And sometimes, I like to close my eyes and listen to music, or nothing at all.

There are so many different ways to relax and so many ways to practice self-care, but these are my three favorite ways and I love that none of them require technology. Sure, if you prefer, read on your kindle, turn on that music while you soak, or watch Netflix while you paint your nails. Nothing wrong with that at all. But if you need a break from technology, you are not excluded from these rituals!

Do you have a favorite self-care ritual that I didn't include in this post? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Where Does Your Spirit Belong?

You wanna know the funny thing about us humans? We walk around murmuring, complaining, kicking, and screaming when things don't go our way. We assume that the world is against us and we talk about how it sucks and that we must have bad luck.

But I wonder, have we stopped to consider that maybe our "difficult situation" actually happened for our good? Have we stopped to consider that maybe, just maybe, someone is looking out for us and has a bigger and better plan?

Of course, by someone, I mean God. You know, Him. That guy who has provided for us. The one who looks out for our best interest and blesses us far more than we deserve? Oh yeah, Him.

We so often take our lives and our very spirits into our own hands, thinking that we know what's best and that we can handle everything on our own. But there's a much easier way for us to live.

If you grew up in church then you've probably heard this verse more than once. You (like me) probably heard it, dismissed it, and moved on because in Sunday school it's a given... Of course we know where our spirit belongs- with God, duh!

But what does that mean? In what way does our spirit belong with God? Does it just mean that Christians belong to God? Does it just mean that we need to trust Him? Well those are partial reasons, for sure, but I believe that there is more to it than that!

It Means Letting Him Decide Our Fate

When we accept that we cannot control our entire lives or micro-manage every little detail, then we can commit our spirits into God's hands and trust that He will take us where we need to be. This doesn't mean that we shouldn't work hard or chase our dreams. We should definitely work as hard as we can to live life well- to live as peculiar treasures. But at the end of the day, if we don't end up where we had planned, we have to trust that wherever we ended up was where God placed us.

It Means We Trust Him For Good Things

Accepting God's direction of our path isn't just a blind act. It's more than just saying, "God has me here even though I know He could have done better for me". When we commit our spirit into God's hands, we are also acknowledging that God knows best and really has our best interest in mind. It's one thing to believe that He controls your destiny- it's another to believe that His destiny is what's best for you.

It Means We Can Rest

When we commit our spirits to God, it is an act of rest. We are leaning in to God as we trust that we are well cared for in every area of life. It's trust that even if life ends up drastically different than we imagined, it's still good. It's choosing not to worry because we know we don't need to. 

Treasured friends, do you know where your spirit belongs? Do you know that you can trust God for everything? Is this something that you find difficult (or even impossible) to believe? Why is that? Are there steps you could take to help you trust and rest in God? Do you even want to?

I'd like to encourage you today to think about these things. I want to encourage you to start your week knowing that you can trust God whole-heartedly. I want us all to hold on to the fact that we can trust God and stop worrying. Let's take comfort in that fact and live it out this week!

I'd love to hear from you. Comment your thoughts below!

Helpful Links for the Productivity-Challenged (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

As I glance at my planner and think through my day, I often realize that I have spent hours "working", yet nothing checked off my list. Perhaps it was the 20 times I checked my email, or the two hour conversation I had on Facebook chat, but somehow the work is still left undone, it's 11pm, and I have to be up for work at 6 in the morning.

Does this sound familiar? 

I find myself in this situation far more frequently than I care to admit, and I always SAY that I am going to correct it. And I may do better for a week or so, but then guess what- I suddenly go back to my lifestyle of procrastination, killing time, and falling behind in almost every aspect of life!

And yesterday when I shared my problem with time management on Instagram, it seemed that many of you share the same sad, dark plight. 

But fear not! If you can relate, then today's post is perfect for you, because I am sharing a few helpful links for aiding you (and me) with better time management skills.

7 Surprising Time Management Secrets- I think #4 is one of the most difficult for me to follow.

I have been very slowly taking Ruth Soukup's course on productivity and it is fantastic. But since I cannot provide that course for you for free, I found a blog post about time management that she wrote. It's called How to Take Back Your Time in Just 5 Simple Steps. Enjoy!

Erin of Very Erin has an awesome list of tools for productivity for bloggers, creatives, and entrepreneurs. Check out 7 Tools and Resources to Increase Productivity.

"We are really good at being busy, but we are really bad at being productive". Couldn't agree more OR wondering what the point is? Check out Erica's post, 8 Productivity Hacks to Totally Transform Your Day.

These ladies all have some great productivity and time-management tips to share, so I hope that these resources will encourage you in a productive direction! Being productive and good with our time is not easy, but if we want to advance, grow, and become the peculiar treasures we were created to be, then it's important that we work on this area since it affects so many other aspects of our lives.

Is time management and/or productivity something you struggle with? Why or why not? Comment below.

The Art of Turning Men Into Doormats | Do You Disrespect the Men In Your Life?

Men are designed by God for His good, perfect plan. Men are made in the image of God, and God calls us to show respect to all image-bearers, male and female alike. Do you respect the men in your life, or do you treat them like your own personal doormat? Learn how to tell if you are treating men with disrespect and why that's a problem.