House Hold Simplicity

Source: dearinspirationblog.blogspot.com via Kate on Pinterest

So, I have decided that as I move toward simplicity in my budget I will aim for this in my home.

There will be an upcoming swap to help me clear out some of my stuff that is either un-useful or un-beautiful.

It is raining in San Francisco.

Source: awesomephotography.co via Roelien on Pinterest

Music Monday

Laura Kirk thanks for sending this my way.

Oh, and Happy Birthday!

Weekend In Review

Awesome dress I bought at Minxy just for Carin's wedding.

Beautiful Chapel at the Swedenborgian Church where Carin got married. (This image does not do this place justice and I am terribly sad I don't have pics of Carin. But, I am so glad I was there and honestly so glad that I was so excited to be there I didn't even think to take a picture I just got to experience her joy. Seriously, it was one of those weddings where the joy was so real I got all teary when I saw her. It was beautiful.)

Rose growing in the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park where Leah and Lisette and I meandered most of the day.

Closed out Saturday at the Symphony. Thank you Brian for the ticket.

Today I got up early to Skype with Suz, taught Sunday school, went to the de Young to see Balenciaga, went to Eucharist, and enjoyed snacks with a fabulous group of people.

It was a good weekend.

I maybe should have gotten more sleep, but it was lovely to be out and about all 2 1/2 days.

Saturday Evening Post

I just went to the Symphony by myself (one of my fabulous friends gave me a ticket). I did it up right. I wore a really fabulous dress and really wonderful earrings. I kind of loved it. I also almost laughed out loud at myself with how much my mind wonders when I am alone. The monologue that happened in my head completing with the really fantastic music was ridiculous, but awesome.

I should go on more solo dates, and maybe more dates with men in tuxedos. Seriously, how darling do those two look? Love it.

Quote of the day

Source: google.com.pk via Bethany on Pinterest

Skipping the Gym to Save Money

Source: instagr.am via Devin on Pinterest

Because I am canceling my gym membership I have to get more creative about working out at home (tonight I got home at 8:45, by the time I sat down for 5 seconds I lost my motivation to go running outside, plus it is cold and dark). I ride my bike to and from work, but it isn't really a work out. So anyway, I found this on pinterest a few weeks ago and I have attempted it a few times, it is kind of kicking my tail, but at least it gets me off my booty without costing me money.

If anyone has some good inexpensive/free workouts please let me know!!

Music Monday

Fear of Failing (and why it is making me broke) Follow Up

I was a bit surprised by how responsive people were to my Fear of Failure post. I am excited to hear that so many people are with me in making these changes and working towards getting out of debt. I also have to say I have already seen that this is going to be hard.

Nonetheless, I have come up with some action steps to take this week.

1. Draft actual budget.
   
2. Cancel my gym membership.
3. Change my CSA delivery to a small box every other week (I love my Farm Fresh to You box, but I throw a ton of it out. That is a waste of money and food.)
4. Research zero percent APR cards I can roll my debt over to so that I can pay towards my actual debt not just the interest that it grows each month. (This might be tricky, but I got some offers for 15 months no interest. I might be able to roll over onto one of them and get most of it paid off, than roll the remaining amount before the interest hits. I got this idea from my sister and I think it is worth a try.) I am also going to see if I can find a rewards plan that better meets my needs.
5. Research banks. Mine is great and I have had it for over 10 years. However, I get charged $6 every time I need to use another banks ATM.
6. Memorize the principles in this video:

I feel like this is enough to take on in one week, next week there will be more.

Side note: I ran 4 miles overcoming my fear of not being able to run 2 again (I was doing 5 a day this time last year, so that is my overall goal); I still need to write those blogs for Sweet Notions; I got more craft stuff and I think I will be hosting a small craft party to help me get my creative energy flowing again so that I can make some stuff to sell.

Side note 2: I am very excited that my choice to take on my debt coincides with the season of free events in SF. FuncheapSF is about to get a ton of attention from me, as will Broke Ass Stuart.

Love to hear more feed back and ideas on how to get un-broke.

Happy Friday

My roommate posted this on facebook and I liked it so Happy Friday!

Mark Scandrette Book Launch Party

Practicing the Way of Jesus from Mark Scandrette on Vimeo.

I am so excited about this book! Mark has so many great things to say and I love ReImagine. I was on staff with them for a year, lead a group for a additional year, I have taught workshops with them and overall experienced amazing things as part of this community. Although I am not longer a member, this community has meant the world to me. I am excited about this book and hopeful for the ways people will learn more about living into the life God has created us for as exemplified through Jesus.

Check out the Book Launch Party tomorrow night 7pm at 455 Dolores Street. This event is going to be full of awesome people and I am excited to celebrate the work Mark has done to write it.

Sleep

Source: etsy.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Fun fact: I have a sleep disorder and tonight I have to go to a fake hotel room so people can watch me sleep. They are going to put monitors all over my face and chest and legs, and watch me sleep. Then they are going to tell me why I don't sleep well (but seriously, they just put wires all over me and they want me to relax and sleep well??) Anyway it is kind of creepy, but I am doing it so I can be healthy.

Fun fact (this one actually is fun): You can purchase the image above on etsy. :)

Fear of Failing (and why it is making me broke)

"The price of inaction is far greater than the cost of making a mistake."
- Meister Eckhart

Source: google.nl via Thomas on Pinterest

I have been thinking allot lately about how my fear of failing is preventing me from really doing what I most desperately want to do. I write posts that are never published, play with the idea of selling art again, wish that I was running more but get frustrated that I am so out of shape that I can only run 2 miles and end up skipping the run.

Funny thing I never thought of myself someone that was afraid of anything. I have done so many things that other people think of as brave, but for a while now I have been holding back and I am not sure what I am afraid of loosing or even what I am afraid of in general, but I am becoming more aware that inaction is scarier than doing something.

So, here I go again. I will be spending time trying to figure out what action I want to take. I might start with the little fears: actually post some art for sale on my etsy site, and finally submit the blog posts I committed to write months ago for Sweet Notions.

On a bigger scale: I am going to figure out a way to get out of debt, even if that means facing my fear of a boring un-fashionable life in which I have to feel like I have to let people down because my budget doesn't let me say yes to everything. To be honest I think this is my biggest fear: that I can't live a life that will get me out of debt and that if I try to get out of debt I will fail. I am afraid can't be responsible enough to pay things off, and that if I do create a budget I will stop having fun, my clothes will all magically go out of style overnight (never mind the fact most of my dresses where made over 30 years ago), and that people will stop wanting to hang out with me if I keep insisting that we eat in and go on walks, hikes, and bike rides.

However, I am realizing that the thing that is even scarier than debt is how debt limits me. It is so much harder to be generous and seek out opportunities to serve when I have to think so much about money. Despite all my chatter about how messed up our consumer economy is I have bought in more than I can afford and it is time for me to pay up.

Wow, that was one scary confession, but I am hoping that because this is a blog that is supposed to talk about simplicity it will be a good space for me to share and hear from others about my journey towards a debt free life.

If you have any advice please feel free to comment. I am hoping that along with continuing to share posts about all the places I shop, I will also be posting about creating a livable budget.

Love

Music Monday

Happy Friday

I know I posted this before, but it feel appropriate for the weekend ahead. I will be posting again on Monday, but this weekend I will be enjoying home.

Quote of the day

"Imagine a world where the representatives of the greatest military power on earth are humbled by an unarmed healer from the backwaters of Galilee. If you can imagine this kind of world, you possess … an imagination ready to discern the reign of heaven." ~Stanley Saunders~

quote source- Sojourners Voice and Verse Daily Email

Music Monday

Pursuit

There is something simply fabulous about pursuit. The undeniable feeling of knowing that you are deeply valuable to someone is unlike anything else. For me the feeling is made real by postcards in the mail, gluten free provisions over dinner, taking time to do the mundane with me by your side, impromptu casual bike rides, and business cards with you personal phone number written in pen on the back, because you really do want me to call. All of these things happened for me this weekend and they all have me feeling very loved.

Yet, as much as I love all of these things the pursuit of my Creator is infinitely more enjoyable. It is as if for the past few days (or, lets be honest: years) God has been whispering to me that even when I want to walk He was in this and He wasn't going anywhere. In the past few weeks I feel that God is saying that these things I have hoped for God has promised me, just not yet so I need to trust just a bit longer, even while I wrestle with the desire to make it all happen now. The presence of God stirring up something in my life these days is more beautiful than I can really say and I am excited about it.


Come, Thou Fount

Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,

Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.

Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood;
How His kindness yet pursues me
Mortal tongue can never tell,
Clothed in flesh, till death shall loose me
I cannot proclaim it well.

O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

Saturday Evening Post

Happy Friday

Sequins in the fabric market in Paris: before they yelled at me to put my camera away.

Source: google.com via vvisuals on Pinterest

A little worn for the wear

While Jenny was here we hopped over to Treasure Island for the Flea market (it was amazing and I will be posting pics of purchases later this week.) Treasure Island is a funny place. It has amazing views and is really a beautiful little island, it hosts a major music event every year, as well as other fun events. It is also where the city has chosen to build a significant amount of low income housing and I know of a few good programs that are located on the island. Supposedly, it is also about to become a 'green city' - basically a government experiment in sustainable architecture and city planning. Rumors are that this will of course force the low income communities out of their housing as their homes are torn down to build sustainable green homes. Now, I am not sure if any of the rumors are true, but as I saw this really beautiful abandoned pier I felt like it was a pretty accurate depiction of the island: beautiful, but broken and in need of some love and attention, but most often forgotten.

(Me and Jenny enjoying our photo opp.)