Day 2: 30 Days of Me

"Be Lovely" is a phrase I used to say in closing, usually in written form. I just really like the thought of encouraging people to exude loveliness. To me, being lovely is to welcome life as it comes. To handle things with grace and true beauty. I also love the idea of surrounding ourselves with lovely things to further enhance our pursuit of living lovely. It's not to say that we should suppress negative feelings or try to avoid negative emotions. In fact, I believe (and I think I am scientifically backed) that to be mentally healthy we need to accept the ugly in our lives and allow ourselves to process through yucky feelings. And being aware of yourself, and loving yourself enough to take the bad with the good is, I believe, part of this thing called loveliness.

Day 1: 30 days of Me

Here is a recent photo of me. This was on the morning of registration for this semester's classes (around Sept 1, 2010). I am joined by my beautiful daughter =)

15 things about Me:

1. I am married to the perfect guy for me. We have been through so much together but we have always remained friends above all else. I believe that friendship is what makes our marriage so strong. I am very blessed to have Rusty in my life to take my hand and walk with me wherever God leads us!

2. I am a mommy and I love it. It is not without its challenges, but it is the single-most rewarding experience I've ever had. My little "Dot" is the light of my life and she makes things worth doing. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that she saved me and made the way for the life that I am supposed to have.

3. I am a procrastinator. Why do you think I'm doing this right now? Because I desperately do not want to write a paper...

4. I really love to shop online, and I very rarely actually buy anything. I suppose it's another form of procrastination.

5. I miss my family every single day. Sometimes I cry, but I don't want my Momma to worry. I know I am where I need to be. It just gets tough.

6. I really love music. I am surrounded by it almost constantly. I wish so much that I had something to contribute musically. I cannot play an instrument or sing. I really wish I could sing.

7. Sometimes I want to be the perfect housewife, sometimes I want to be this strong, power-chick. Most of the time I want both.

8. I'm learning to say nice things to myself.

9. I like The Hills, One Tree Hill, cheerleading, and trashy VH1 reality shows. Sue me.

10. I am really terrible at house work. Actually, the quality of the work when it is done is fine, it's just that I rarely get it done. I need to work on this everyday.

11. I have a freckle above my left eyebrow that I really like.

12. I'm a lot smarter than my transcript would have you believe if you were to get a hold of it. I struggled for a while, now I'm back on the horse and ready to finish this race.

13. I really want to write and publish a book. Maybe a novel, maybe a non-fiction kind of thing.

14. I function best on about 6 hours of sleep. If I get more than 8 I am dead to the world.

15. I am really skeptical of most people. Don't mind me if we are out sometime and I am "scanning" people for guns. When you have a baby you'll understand.

30 Days of Me

Okay. So, I know I have already posted twice today, but check the time stamp. It's definitely 12:13am and counts as a new day. I was reading the blog of one of my best-friends this evening when I came across this beautiful, inspiring, and refreshing task. 30 days of Me. Here is the list:

day 1- recent picture of you and 15 interesting facts about yourself

day 2- the meaning behind you blog name

day 3- a picture of you and your friends

day 4- a habit that you wish you didn’t have

day 5- a picture of somewhere you've been to

day 6- favorite super hero and why

day 7- a picture of someone/something that has the biggest impact on you

day 8- short term goals for this month and why

day 9- something you're proud of in the past few days

day 10- songs you listen to when you are happy, sad, bored, hyped, mad

day 11- another picture of you and your friends

day 12- how you found out about blogger and why you have one

day 13- a letter to someone who has hurt you recently

day 14- a picture of you and your family

day 15- put you ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play

day 16- another picture of yourself

day 17- someone you would want to switch lives with for one day and why

day 18- plans/dreams/goals you have

day 19- nicknames you have and why you have them

day 20- someone you see yourself marrying or being with in the future

day 21- a picture of something that makes you happy

day 22- what makes you different from everyone else

day 23- something you crave for a lot

day 24- a letter to your parents

day 25- what I would find in your bag

day 26- what do you think about your friends

day 27- why are you doing this 30 day challenge

day 28- a picture of you from last year and now, how have you changed since then?

day 29- in this past month, what have you learned

day 30- you favorite song

I kind of love this. I feel like it is just what the doctor ordered. To spend a few minutes a day to really think about myself. Not in a narcissistic and self-centered way, but in a healing and empowering sense. I'm not doing this for my readers, but for myself. If you are reading, however, please feel free to comment and even do the challenge with me. Afterall, I am doing this with a dear friend. Here we go!

I really love this...

22 years...

Today is my first full day of being 22 years old

I really don't feel older, but I do feel a sort of change happening. Not that I woke up this morning and had a grand revelation, I have just learned a lot of lessons in the past few months that seem to be totaling up and making the way for a healthy and full 22nd year.

Anyone that knows me well at all knows that I can easily get "stars in my eyes"-as my Momma put it. This usually involves a grand idea (generally creative) and is usually a way for me to make money, or a name for myself. I think the need for these ideas is really from the fact that as a 20 something, I am still not completely comfortable in who I am and don't have a strong handle on where my place in the world is. I have tried everything from cupcakes, to sewing, to photography. While each of these things is a hobby and a happy thing in my life, none of them are indicative of what God has planned for me.

As a wife, a mother, and a student, I MUST focus more on those roles and begin to improve what God has set out for me.

I apologize to anyone who has been caught up in wave of my ambition. What I am learning is that my real passion in life is Rusty, Abbey, and the prospect of being a Psychologist. If you do know me well, please encourage me in my pursuit to do my best at those things.

What does this mean for Be Lovely? I'm not completely sure. I know that I will no longer be advertising any kind of products or services that I may offer. I feel that hobby and work need to remain separate in my life. I am undecided on what I will carry-on writing about. I really do love design and fashion, and because that is a hobby I suppose it needs an outlet. I would also like a place to just journal-with no deadlines or weekly plans involved. So, I'm still thinking and praying.

Hang with me.

Thanks to all of you who have encouraged me in all my pursuits and who have been with me when people have been flat-out-mean.

Be Lovely!

Kellory

a lovely wardrobe: ruche

Every once in a while I stumble across a little slice of shopping Heaven. Like when I finally discovered Etsy, or the eye candy of Design Sponge. Recently my online window shopping has consisted of staring (and staring, and staring) at the new items and lookbook of Ruche. This is one of those stores that I probably shouldn't tell people about so that I can be the only one that knows where the treasure is.

And when people ask me where I got my outfit I say something like, "Um...I don't remember. It was a while back."

But that's a bit snarky.

Ruche is an online shop with vintage-inspired clothing but it's totally affordable! I don't think there is one thing on the website that I wouldn't love to have in my wardrobe. It really is one of those shops that I would be willing to ditch all my clothing if I could have it replenished with Ruche items.

I have lately been on a seemingly materialistic hunt for "my style". Well, Ruche, you did it. This shop is totally "me".

Case in point. This outfit just needs to poof! on my person. Right now. I love every bit of it. The dress, the sweater, the necklace, the ring, the tights, the shoes, the bag. I even like that chic's hair.

I like this hairstyle, too. But what I really love about this outfit are the slouchy shorts mixed with high-socks and those cute booties. I think I sported this look in like 4th grade. And my tiny ankles are just begging to be trendy.

But here is the real kicker. Oh my goodness, I love this outfit. I never would think that green leg warmers would be stylish, but they clearly work in this case. The brooch is sold separately but it belongs on that coat. I never knew "the rules" about wearing a long sleeve sweater under a shorter sleeved coat. Well, I don't really care what "the rules" are, because it looks so cute and comfy to me.

I love, love, love layers. The reason autumn is my favorite season is because of the clothes. And now, because of the clothes from Ruche.

PS: my birthday is this month.

=)

i've realized something...

...when blogging, you can totally write the way you think.

Thanks to Emily Henderson of The Brass Petal (also HGTV's latest Design Star and new hostess of Secrets from a Stylist), my take on blog writing has changed. I'm in the full swing of fall semester now, so my brain has switched to "student-scholarly" writing mode, but that wouldn't be much fun to read, now would it?

Lisa and I have both been so busy with school that I don't think either of us have even thought about the blog in a few weeks.

I wonder if changing the focus of Be Lovely during the school year would be beneficial?