Fall Roundup + Free Printables (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

*This post contains affiliate links. These links help support The Peculiar Treasure at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own.*

Happy Friday, peculiar friends! It's been quite a while since I last did a Coffee Sips and Lovely Links segment here at TPT, but with Fall well on it's way, I decided it was time to bring it back.

I love Fall. And if you've been reading this space on the interwebz for very long at all, you probably knew that. I love the crisp Autumn air. I love the crimson, gold, and burnt-orange leaves that dance their way off of the trees. I love the pumpkin-flavored coffee creamer that always finds it's way to the shelves, the pumpkin recipes that clog my Pinterest feed, and the smell of apples and cinnamon that make their appearance in candles around this time of year.

Basically, I love #allthingsfall. And I could spend hours and hours on Pinterest just swooning over all the Fall recipes, the Fall bucket lists, and the cute Fall fashion ideas. But I doubt very seriously you want to spend that much time pouring over links, so I narrowed it down for you a bit 😉

Friends, you know what to do! It's Coffee Sips and Lovely Links time here at The Peculiar Treasure, so grab your cup of coffee and a fuzzy blanket, relax, and enjoy this Fall Roundup (and the free printables I've found for you)!

Coffee Sips + Lovely Links

Fashion

When it comes to Fall fashion, I love cozy dresses, blanket scarves paired with Jeans and Converse, and chunky, knitted sweaters.

Gingham has also made a comeback and I personally think I need a closet full of it. 😉

Recipes

When I was a teenager, I would ask my mom to make me a pumpkin roll for my birthday instead of a cake. They are my absolute favorite, and I love to slice off a piece and stick it in the freezer for about 45 minutes before eating it.

I made this creamy chicken tortellini soup last week and it was phenomenal! I cannot wait to make it again, and it will definitely remain on my meal rotation!

Last year, I went apple picking with my mom and I bought sooooo many apples. In fact, some of them went bad (🙈), so this year I know to buy less. BUT, one of the best things I did with said apples is that I made this amazing pumpkin apple bread. It was sooooo good. You need this recipe in your life. Just sayin'!

Fall Mugs

I am absolutely in love with mugs. I already explained my mug obsession and why I am not giving up coffee, but I still enjoy sharing when I find some super cute mugs online!

I found several on Etsy:

Morning Pumpkin

Sweater Weather

Fall Breeze

And then a few more on Amazon:

Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice

Pumpkin Spice Gift Set

Printables

Another thing that I love this time of year is all of the adorable printables that people make. So I figured this Fall roundup was not complete without showcasing some of the free printables that are available to you!

Fall Farmhouse Printables

Watercolor Printables (😍)

Pumpkin Patch Printable

"Life Starts All Over..."

World of Octobers Printable

Hello Fall Printable


I hope you enjoyed this Fall edition of Coffee Sips and Lovely Links. Hopefully, there was something here for every Fall-lover to enjoy! And as a true southerner would say: Happy Fall, yall!

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links: 4th of July Edition

The 4th of July has always just been about family for me. I know it's supposed to be about celebrating our independence and all, but I've always just considered it a good excuse to eat yummy cookout food, hang out with my awesome family, and see some fireworks at the end of the night. My Grandaddy and Nana would always host the festivities, grill hamburgers and hot dogs, and Grandaddy and my uncle would shoot off fireworks. They lived on the waterway up until very recently, so that cool ocean breeze would usually make an appearance at some point in the evening.

These were such fun times and I am very appreciative of them. But now that I am married, we live in Charlotte and my Grandparents no longer live on the coast, so things are a little different. I still plan to go see my family for the forth, and I can probably still find a place to watch fireworks, but it's still different. It's not as easy now because I am over here learning to make my own traditions and adjust to not having all my family within a 15 minute drive.

Maybe you are in a similar place. Maybe you are not able to visit family or follow the same traditions this year. Or maybe you are just tired of the same ole, same ole and want to change it up this year. Either way, today's Coffee Sips and Lovely Links segment is all about Independence Day and some fun ideas for celebrating this July 4th!

Food

These red, white, and blue M&M cookie bars look fantastic for a July 4th dessert!

This Easy Flag Fruit Dessert by Family Fresh Meals is super cute and would add a little nutrition to your cookout! 😉

You could even make your own gourmet hot dog topping bar.

Fashion

Want something uber-cute but still casual and comfy? Summer has got your back with this off the shoulder top. So perfect!

Looking for something a little bit different? Chelsie has three more outfit ideas for you that might be what you are looking for.

Games

4th of July Bingo? Yes please!

You could also make your own Family Summer Olympics! How fun is that!?

You could also try this 4th of July Water Blob for Kids!

Safety

For fire safety, check out this Fire Safety Info-graphic!

For pet safety, this very short article has some important reminders.

Need more pet safety tips? This pet safety info-graphic might be what you are looking for!

I hope that everyone stays injury-free during the fireworks, but just in case, here's some info on firework injuries.

A Little Side Note

Now, I don't want to diminish what July 4th is about. I appreciate the freedoms we have in America, and I am thankful for people who risked their lives (as well as their emotional health) for my sake and the sake of others. Things in America aren't even close to perfect, but we should always be thankful that people who don't even know us are willing to protect us. People like my father-in-law, and my sweet friend Vanessa of Pursue Simple Joy- they gave so much. So don't forget to thank those around you who served to make our independence remain possible. Don't forget that as you are grilling, laughing, and watching the fireworks.

What I'm Loving Lately (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

It's somehow already Friday again, peculiar ones! How? How does that happen?
Day by day we eat, work, sleep, and repeat and time goes by so stinkin' quickly. Because of #adulting, this is necessary to a certain degree, but we also have to take the time to relax, smell the roses, drink the coffee, and do the fun things.

I only work outside of my home Monday-Wednesday right now, and I am still on the hunt for another job. I've been really stressed about that lately, and it has been critical for me to make sure I am taking at least a little bit of time for myself. When I don't, I end up with a horrible migraine and high blood pressure. No bueno.

I enjoy a lot of different things, but right now my "me time" is either reading through the Harry Potter books, singing to Pentatonix as loudly as I can, playing Harvest Moon for Wii, taking Epsom salt baths, and just sitting and watching Netflix with the hubby.

Another way you can relax is by getting cozy, sipping coffee, and reading really good, helpful blog posts. Sure, I do that all the time anyway, but it's different when you have been wanting to catch up on your favorites.

So today, I am sharing a hodge-podge of posts that are only connected by the fact that I enjoyed them. My hope is that you will too.
So grab your favorite beverage (you already know what I'm having!), settle in your most comfy of chairs, and enjoy these posts that I've been loving.

DIY Industrial Shelves by Love Doing Life
If a project reminds me of Chip and Joanna Gaines, it's a winner for sure! And that's exactly what happened with these industrial shelves that Elizabeth of Love Doing Life put in her home. It's a great project!

8 Productivity Hacks to Totally Transform Your Day by Coming Up Roses
Anytime Erica of CUR posts about productivity or blogging I am interested in what she has to say. She is an absolute rock star when it comes to those topics!

Why I'm Still Boycotting Target (1 Year Later) by Small Town Soul
Clearly, this one will be controversial. Lots of awesome people have varying opinions on this, but I just loved that Abbey was brave enough to share this post articulately. I don't necessarily agree with every single thing she says, but I fully know where she is coming from and I support her bravery. This is NOT a popular opinion and I've been in her shoes.

Why I Want To Be Worth My Weight In Salt by Pretty Simple Ideas
Friends, this is my absolute favorite post by Sarah of PSI. The Bible says that we should be the salt of the earth, and Sarah does an awesome job of explaining what that means and why it's so important. Check it out!

DIY Macrame Herb Garden From Recycled Bottles by Craftivity Designs
This is a super cute project that Lora of CD created using plastic bottles from tea. I really want to make one!


Which of these links is your favorite? Comment below.

How to Help Your Friend Who's Grieving

If you get my newsletter, then you probably know that one of my best friends lost a loved-one last week. I hated seeing her go through so much pain and I wanted to fix it right on the spot. But my friend was hurting and grieving. There was only so much I could do. It takes time to heal.

However, just because healing takes time doesn't mean that we can't comfort a friend who is grieving.

The problem, however, is that sometimes it's hard to know exactly what helping looks like in these situations. Is helping staying with them constantly? Is it leaving them alone so you aren't hovering too closely? Is it taking them out to their favorite restaurant and letting them drink an entire bottle of wine? Ummm, no. I don't recommend that last one.

But helping can come in many forms. Helping depends on your particular friend and their personality. Helping depends on what stage of grief they are in. And helping depends on what you are able to give of yourself. Regardless of those factors though, helping your friend as they grieve is extremely important, and today, I'd like to share some ways in which you can actionably help the one in your life who's hurting.

Help Them Focus

Try to think of things that will set their focus right. For me, this meant sending my friend lots of songs dealing with God being with us, God taking care of us, and that emphasized us calling out to God in the midst of heartache. You can do this on Spotify if your friend has an account. My friend does not, so I found all the sounds on Youtube and sent them to her. She said they helped her calm down some.

This could also mean offering to pray for her, sharing helpful scripture, etc. The point here is to help your friend remember truth in the midst of her chaos.

Encourage Them Towards Self-Care

When people are grieving, they often forget to take care off themselves. Physical, emotional, and spiritual self-care are all very important and can make or break a smooth healing. It's not that our friends need to rush the healing process or anything like that. It's just that we would never want to see them hindering their own healing.

Suggest things like calming lavender baths, listening to mellow music, doing some breathing exercises, writing in their journal, Bible reading, prayer- whatever you know helps your friend remain calm and healthy.

Let Them Know You Are Available

At some point, the (well-meaning) suggestions, advice, and reminding of truth can only go so far. There comes a time where you just need to be there. Be present and be normal. Participate in the day-to-day, normal friendship you've always had and if your friend wants to talk about it some more, you'll probably be able to tell. Don't feel like you always have to be "helping". They probably don't want that anyway.

Let Them Grieve

Grieving- truly grieving- is important too. A person who is hurting can cover it up and try to smooth it all over, but it's still there, eating away at them. So let your friend grieve. Not so long that they become a no-pants-wearing hobo, but long enough for them to feel what they need to feel. Don't try to prevent that process or get in the way of that step.

Watching a friend hurt can be so hard. We want to make it all better and do away with their pain. But that just isn't how life works and we have to be okay with that. Just be patient, be available, and use the steps above to help your friend. Obviously, it isn't a formula. You need to use wisdom about your friend's specific personality. But as a general rule, I feel that the above tips can help you help your loved-one who's grieving.

Want more on this topic?

Elizabeth of Love Doing Life definitely has some insight into grief after losing her baby.

One Way to Wade Through Grief- Ernest Grant II (Desiring God)

John Piper's prayer after an entire family was killed in a car accident.


Do you have any tips that you think should be included? Or are you personally grieving or trying to comfort someone who is? Comment below. I'd love to chat!

My All-Time Favorite Blogging Tips and Resources (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

Happy Friyay! Despite the fact that I had a short week, I am so stinkin' exhausted. Has anyone else been feeling that way lately? Burning the candle at both ends even though it doesn't seem like there's a reason for it?

I don't know why I have been so drained lately, but I do know that sometimes it's really hard to balance a day-job, VA work, driving to SC to see my family, blogging, and trying to grow my knowledge about the blogging world.

I know when I started blogging, there was a huge learning curve for me because I didn't understand any of the back-end/technologocal side of blogging. I was also 100% unfamiliar with any rules, tips, or tricks for blogging. What kept me from going completely insane was being able to find awesome bloggers who had been there before me and could help me out both through asking them direct questions, and through reading posts they had already written on the subject.

I don't know that I would have kept at it if it weren't for them. Life is crazy enough without having to learn everything from scratch on your own.

So today on Coffee Sips and Lovely Links, I've gotten together a few of my all-time favorite blogging resources and tips for you awesome peeps! Hopefully it will help you avoid pulling your hair out as you navigate the blogging world.

• Erica Gwyn of Coming Up Roses has an excellent post about crafting a killer "about me" section on your blog. Sooooo good!

• I discovered Allison of Wonderlass through The Genius Blogger's Toolkit that I purchased back in the Fall. I have been taking her branding course, Rave, and loving it. She's quirky, fun, and very knowledgeable in her expertise. I thought this video, Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset was good. Nothing fancy, but encouraging.

• How to Fill Up Your Content Calendar in an Hour by Summer of Coffee with Summer was really good too. I always try to follow a content calendar, and I technically write one out, but I never end up following it all the way. I'll change my idea, switch dates around, or just get completely stuck. I read this post by Summer a few days ago and I think her tips will be helpful to you as well.

• Most people have heard all about Mailchimp and Convertkit for email marketing. But Rachel of The Confused Millennial recently published a post about The Best Email Marketing Provider and I absolutely agree with her and have for months now! Check it out and you may end up wanting to make the switch!

• Speaking of Rachel, she also had a great post about How to Create A Home Photography Studio on a Budget. There are definitely some good ideas in there!

• One thing that I hate is when Bloggers play the Follow/Unfollow Game. I'm over here working my butt off, trying to get genuine followers on my blog and social media, but a lot of bloggers play the game and I just don't like it. Want to know more? Summer had a great post about the issue. I was a contributor along with a couple other ladies. If you are interested in being a truly authentic blogger, read this post.

Peculiar friends, there are so many resources out there on the world wide interwebz. No, not all of them are trust-worthy, and some will be contradictory, but there are also some really amazing posts at your fingertips to help you navigate the blog world. Utilize them so you won't go completely nutsy!

I'd love to know which of these links was most helpful to you! Or, do you have another resource that you find particularly helpful? Happy weekending!

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links: Saint Patrick's Day

Happy Friday, peculiar ones! Did you know that next Friday (March 17th) is St. Patrick's Day? If it weren't for all the Pinterest crafts floating on to my feed, I probably wouldn't.

I've never really celebrated St. Patrick's Day much- probably because all I knew about it for years was that I better wear green or I'd get pinched... but two years ago I really learned more about St. Patrick and what he did for the Christian faith, and that allowed me to appreciate the holiday more.

I still don't go all-out, but I know a lot of people do. So I figured this would be the best time to share some facts, crafts, and food for your St. Patrick's Day festivities!

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.

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.

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!

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.

Overcoming the Turmoil in Our World: Coffee Sips and Lovely Links

Between the women's march, "vagina hats", talks of Trump, Obama, abortions, and all the way down to whether or not it's okay to whip out a boobie in the middle of Target to breastfeed- the media has blown up in the past few days (and even the past year or so).

There's so much going on in the world that has nothing to do with feminism or women's rights, but right now, that's what is on my mind. And I have lots of opinions about each one of these things, but this blog is not the place where I share most of those.

I want to encourage you all to become better versions of yourselves, and I fear that if I opened up the floodgates of politics and sharp opinions, I would sorely regret it. So as tempting as it is for me to vent, rant, and spew all of my thoughts out onto this page, I'll refrain.

But you know what I will do? I'll tell you what I am thankful for.

I'm thankful for:

-The freedom to believe what I want

-The freedom to live by what I believe

-Rights and privileges that other countries do not offer

-Friends that love and respect me even when we don't agree

-A laid-back hubby who reminds me to calm down

-This blog

-Fun music that cheers me up when I am stressed

-Coffee...Lots and lots of coffee

-More Coffee

-Did I mention coffee?

Obviously, I am thankful for so much more than that, but this list was meant to prove a point: We can choose to focus on the things that make us crazy- that make us want to hide under a rock- or we can be thankful for the things we are blessed with.

Being thankful doesn't erase the issues of life, or the turmoil in our world, but it does re-frame our minds and hearts and helps us be more in tune with the blessings we have.


And since TPT's Coffee Sips and Lovely Links segments are designed to provide you with helpful links on specific issues, if you need some help overcoming the turmoil in our culture and in the world, here are a few helpful, encouraging links!

My husband started a blog recently and he has some great thoughts on how to overcome the outrage culture we are seeing around us. It's his first ever blog post, so you should definitely check it out. He's kinda cool 😉

Or how about this 2.5 minute interview with John Piper about the fact that God will supply ALL of our needs?

I also LOVE Chip Ingram and am always blessed by his messages. Honestly, I haven't listened to this one but I felt that this would be appropriate to this post (based on the title). I've never heard a Chip Ingram sermon that didn't encourage me: How to Experience Peace in the Midst of Uncertain Times.

I hope you come away from this post (and the lovely links I left for you) extremely encouraged. Be thankful, be humble, and walk in the truth of Jesus and his love.

Swoon Worthy Reads for Your Weekend (Coffee Sips and Lovely Links)

Happy Friday, friends! I am immensely grateful that the weekend is here. It has been an exhausting week and I am sure many of you feel the same way.

So as I type this post, I am listening to my Christmas playlist (with the current song belonging to N*sync- because they are awesome!). And I am trying to be a relaxed person but I have never been very good at that, so we'll see how that goes ;)

The only thing I'd like to say to you is that no matter who you are, no matter who you voted for, and no matter what you believe about life- I love you. And more importantly, God loves you. So don't let this week (or any week) get you down. Run to God and be at peace. Believe me- I'm preaching to the choir over here!

Helpful Tips for Fall and Thanksgiving

Are you feeling overwhelmed about the holidays already? Are you hoping to have a fun, laid-back, and stress-free Thanksgiving with your family and friends? Learn how to have a fantastic Thanksgiving with the help of these tips and resources.

Happy Friday, lovelies! This has been a very busy week with lot's of tasks on my to-do list. Lot's of candles to make (praise God for business!), lots of blogging goals to meet, and most pressing has been getting ready for our joint yard sale with my mom.

Despite all the busyness going on around the Cook house though, I have really been feeling good about my blog lately. There's a lot I haven't accomplished yet, but there's also a lot that I have been proud of. I'll take it! 😁

And if you saw my November Goals post on Wednesday, you know that I am trying really hard to accomplish the things that are important to me, without missing the blessings that are right in front of me- I'm calling it my contented hustle. I think it sounds like the newest dance...buuuut, maybe that's just me.

I guess I could stop yammering on, because I know you are ready for your Friday links to read with your coffee. I don't really blame you. There's some pretty awesome stuff in there 😎

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links: Birthday Edition

Happy Friday, friends! I can't tell you how excited I am about this day. If you read my latest post, then you know that I don't get as much time with the hubby as I'd like, so it makes my heart do a little pitter-patter that today I get to spend all day with him as we celebrate my 26th birthday. I don't know what we are going to be doing, but he says he has a plan :) Then, we will meet my parents, brother, and grandparents for dinner. It's going to be a good day!

And since it's the middle of October now (say WHATTTTT?!), Fall weather is actually, legitimately here for a lot of us. I hope you are making the most of this time. I am trying to. I have already marked two major items off of my Fall Bucket List: hosting a pumpkin party and going to a pumpkin patch. I am proud of myself for checking those off, and I want to keep at it. I hope you will too. Fall doesn't feel like it lasts very long, unfortunately, so we would be wise to carpe diem the heck out of this month!

So enjoy today. Grab a cup of coffee, sit back in your comfiest of chairs, and enjoy these links that I have picked for you!

First of all, don't forget about Pinterest Love Friday. If you are unfamiliar with this, it's a link-up I do on The Peculiar Treasure Facebook page. The link-up is simple, quick, and beneficial to all who participate. Come share a pin you'd like some love on or ask for followers. We'd love to have you!

Do you have a Barnabas? A Barnabas is someone who is constantly pointing you to and encouraging you in God. Julie of The Hallway Initiative explains this concept and offers some encouragement whether you have a friend like that or not.

I am so excited to share this Facebook post by Summer of Coffee with Summer. She has teamed up with Emergen-C to share their clean water campaign for Ethiopia. Seriously, check it out. A simple post on Instagram can help give clean water to the people of Ethiopia!

And finally, on a lighter note, earlier this week Rachel of The Confused Millennial shared a super-fun post about what she has learned from the Gilmore Girls. For anyone who is feeling excited about the show's return in November, you need to read this!

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links (Vol. 4)

Happy Friday, wonderfuls! Have you had a good week? I sure hope so. Have you been able to do any fun Fall activities? If so, good for you. Pinterest is chocked-full of all-things yummy, pumpkin-y, apple-y, and delish right now. I want to do #allofthethings and make the most of this weather, so the fact that Baby E and I were able to go feed the ducks at the park this week in the fantabulous weather made my heart very happy. And this weekend I am hosting a pumpkin party for the ladies at the seminary. I am so excited and so ready. *Sigh* I love Fall!

But no matter how much I love Fall and love the month of October, that doesn't mean that we suddenly get to be free from the trials and struggles of life.That fight we had with a family member is still there, that rude remark from a co-worker is still in the back of our minds, and our failures still follow us around waiting to tell us how awful we are.

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links (Vol. 3)- The Calling Edition

Have you ever been so passionate about something that it made you gladly hop out of bed early in the morning just so you could keep at it? Have you ever had a job that you missed when you weren't doing it? Or that you couldn't keep off of your mind?

For me, that's blogging. There are times when I wake up far before my alarm and I immediately think "Well, I could get up, have coffee, and work on bloggy-things". I almost also see if I can go back to bed first, because I never really feel rested as it is, but the point is, when I could be thinking "I don't want to get up for any reason whatsoever, instead I find myself thinking about the blog (and coffee, of course).

I'm thrilled to have something like this in my life. Even though it isn't my full-time gig, it still brings me great joy and I am thankful for it. I feel like I am able to make a difference, encourage others, and grow personally as well. And my hope is that this will be my life-long calling, but regardless, I'm glad God has me here now.

Calling is important. If we aren't living by our calling, things just won't be as deeply rewarding. But the more we live for God and the calling He has on our lives, the more satisfied we will be in our soul. That doesn't mean things will be easy, but it does mean that God will be working through us and that we will be where we were created to be.

But do you wanna know something awesome about God? While He does want us to always seek Him, and try to live in step with Him, God doesn't expect us to figure out everything on our own.

Sometimes, we will have a hard time discerning what God is calling us to do. And as hard as this is for me to grasp, that is okay. God guides our paths and takes us where we need to be. We cannot mess up His plans, even when we slip or stumble. Again, God wants us to live by His will and stay in step with Him, but we don't have to put so much pressure on ourselves if we are unsure about what's next. This is a concept that I have a really hard time with, but I do think it's true.

But for those of you who struggle to find your calling, or know your calling but are still searching for that next step, I have put together a few links to help you on your journey. I found them to be incredibly encouraging, and I hope you will too!

The inspiration for the theme of this post came from Dale Partridge of Startup Camp. His recent blog post on how to distinguish between passion from calling is simply excellent. I highly recommend reading it!

This article by Molly about reaching your full potential also offers some great tips for reaching your dreams!

John Piper talks about what you need to do in order to begin discerning your calling here.


I hope you have found these links to be abundantly encouraging, and I hope you all have a great weekend!

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links // Vol. 2

Happy Friday, lovelies!

This week has been insane. For those of you who don't know, my husband and I live in Charlotte, NC, and the riots that you've seen on the news are only 20 minutes away from our house, and about 10-15 minutes away from where we work.

It's scary, it's maddening, and it's serious. But we have been very blessed. We live outside of the city, so if we hadn't watched the news or been on Facebook, everything would have seemed completely normal.

I want to see healing for all the hearts that are hurting, and I want to see this violence stop. But God is good and He is going to take care of everything. He will make all things new one day, and until then, He is working out all things in His time.

We don't need to freak out or lose our minds. We need to keep living life well and work towards helping others in whatever ways we can and are called to.
We don't need to spend every two seconds checking our news feeds, living in fear.

So as a pick-me-up, I've rounded up three different links for you all to enjoy. I hope they encourage you to keep living even in the face of fear, even in the face of hurt, and that they help draw you nearer to God.

Ally of The Speckled Goat (who by the way is one of my all-time-favorite bloggers!), share's about how change is hard, yet God is still very good. If you are struggling with change right now (or even if you aren't) this is a great read.

Do you know anyone who is either pregnant, a new mom, or someone who has lost a baby? Healing Grace Childbirth Services is an excellent ministry that offers resources for expecting moms, new parents, families looking to adopt, and even bereavement services for those families who are dealing with losing their baby.
And this month, I am happy to have Healing Grace as my sponsor for the second time.
Join me in supporting them by either liking their page, telling a friend about their services, or sharing this post.

And for all those who are struggling along with us here in Charlotte in regards to racial tension, riots, and the like, here is an article by Kevin Deyoung on how to handle all of this in a more godly way.

Happy Friday, friends!

Coffee Sips and Lovely Links (Vol. 1)

Hello, all you wonderful people! I hope today is just absolutely fantabulous and that you are Carpe-diem-ing the heck out of your day! ;)

Life has been so, so busy lately, and there are no signs of it letting up anytime soon, but I am trying to live life well and accomplish my goals in the midst of all the busyness.

Right now though, it's time to slow down. I've got my coffee, a gorgeous blanket that my mom crocheted for me, and I've taken the time to gather some of my very favorite links for you. These are blog posts and articles that I have found very helpful or encouraging over the past week or so, and I hope they will be the same for you!