july favorites

Can we take a moment to acknowledge how fast this summer just seems to be zipping by?  It's almost the end of July?!?!  And usually this would send me into a dizzy thinking about everything on my "summer to-do list" and what must be prepared for this upcoming school year, but I'm learning how to relax.  How to soak up life.  How to enjoy the little moments and not get caught up in the to-do's and the things I tell myself I should be doing.  

Today I wanted to share with you some of my lovely favorites for this month! 

You guys, this book....there are no words for the love I have for it.  I mean, where else can you listen to an incredible woman's intimate and touching stories, be filled with wisdom, AND learn some amazing recipes???  I have cried and laughed my way through Shauna's other two books, Bittersweet and Cold Tangerines.  This book taps into my heart for cooking, the love for creating, and sharing that with others.  I've always been intimidated with having people over for meals, and I second guess everything I do.  She has urged my heart to think otherwise and push myself so that I become more comfortable hosting. 

I will forever by grateful for She Reads Truth.  These ladies know what they're doing! I can't tell you how many times I want to read my bible, a plan, something...but have no idea where to start.  Not only are their words powerful and leave me in awe every time, but all I have to do is click on a plan and I have it with me wherever I go.  I've found myself reading my bible in my car, waiting for appointments, and love that God's word is with me wherever I go.  This current study is truly inspiring me! 

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I stumbled upon the Holistic Science Co. at the Little Italy's farmers market lat month and fell it love.  This company is local, made in San Diego, and everything is plant-based and handmade.  At the market I was talking with one of the women who actually makes them and she was so helpful and informative. Lately I've been trying to switch over my skincare to plant-based, free of parabens and other harsh chemicals.  What I love about this is that it hydrates my skin without leaving me oily (and it smells amazing)!  I use this is a moisturizer in the morning and throughout the day, and a spritz before bed instantly calms me.  It soothes the skin and replenishes it, which is perfect after I've been out in the sun or exercising! 

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 I've been on the hunt for a good, supportive sports bra for a while...and let's just say that the "ladies" keep growing and need a little help.  I'm not the type to spend a ton of money on workout clothes, but a sports bra was something I knew I would be willing to because I would get my moneys worth and I would get a ton of use out of it.  Enter Lululemon.  Again, I don't buy much there, just basics.  I went in thinking I was going to get the Ta Ta Tamer because I'd read so many great reviews, however after trying it on, it just didn't feel that great.  I like my sports bras to be racer back, and it wasn't (although you could make it that way).  So the lovely associate had me try on their Energy Bra, and it was love at first fit.  I love this bra!  Talk about comfort and support, I want to wear it all of the time !

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Now that the sports bra issue is covered, I've been dying for a good workout.  For some reason, I've been slightly more unmotivated than usual to workout.  Maybe it's the pregnancy.  And running is great, but I need strength training and hard workouts in order to feel my best.  A new yoga studio called Yoga Six opened up right by our place, and they give you 6 free classes to try within two weeks.  I LOVED this option versus other studios that give you a week free.  The moment I walked inside I was greeted by the nicest receptionist, and the manager happened to be standing right next to her.  She caught wind that it was my first time visiting them, so she gave me a tour of the studio and a brief background on them.  I just fell in love with them.  The first class I went to was a Sculpt class, and the instructor was so accommodating to give me modifications since I shouldn't be exercising on my back any more.  Yoga is a passion of mine.  I love that my body, mind, and soul all get a workout and I feel so refreshed and strong after every class! 

a lesson learned from mango

It is a beautiful thing when God can take one small act to help you realize where you have been struggling.  Sometimes it is as though we are walking along a blinded path, doing our own thing, without acknowledging His power, His grace, His love and how that should look when we live it out.  On our cruise, God definitely used one of these moments to show me where these hard crevices were forming in my heart, that needed some dusting off.  

When you're on vacation, it is easy to think about yourself.  Where are we eating at?  What time do we need to be here?  Did you save a seat for me?  Me. Me. Me. Me. Me.  And I soon realized that it wasn't just on vacation that I was thinking about myself, it was everywhere.  Almost as though people owed me.  When our boat docked in Ensenada, we originally weren't planning on getting off, but later decided we needed a good stretch and wanted our sea legs back.  So we wandered off into downtown Ensenada, where the streets are strewn with woman and children begging for money, offering to sell you chicles, fresh fish laid out at the market, vendors luring you into their pharmacy, offers for alcohol, and waitresses enticing you into each and every restaurant.  On occasion we would see some people from our cruise line.  And one family in particular was trying to take a picture with our boat in the background.  I was going to keep walking until Daniel urged me to go and offer to take their picture.  I hesitated.  I liked our path, our plan, and what we were doing.  But I offered, they accepted, they smiled so bright, and all of a sudden it was as though my heart slowly started warming up.  When did helping others all of a sudden seem so hard? 

On our way back to the boat I saw a vendor with the largest mangoes I have ever seen.  So we stopped off and I watched them artfully carve it in front of me and filled my mouth with the freshest mango I have ever had.  Soon enough I became so full.  And as we rounded a corner, a child with his little sister and mother wanted us to buy chicles from him.  We declined and he immediately pointed to my mango.  Instantly I asked him if he wanted it, he shook his head vigorously, and as I handed it to him it was as though I had just given him the greatest gift in the world.  His smile lit up the whole corner.  And it was then that God showed me the lesson I needed to learn, and re-learn over and over again.  We get so much more out of helping others, giving them what they need, then when we receive something.  It feels like a Christmas saying, but why am I not focused on it now.  My heart was filled with so much joy I felt as though I floated the entire way back to the ship.  From that moment on whenever we saw a family or couple trying to take a picture, we stopped whatever we were doing and offered to take it for them.  It never fails how appreciative they are, and how that kindness just passes from them to you.  I have lots of things to work on in my life, and right now I'm trying to find ways to help others in authentic instances, to try to meet others needs, and to think less of what I need from this world.  So, thank you mangos! 

weddings + ode to marriage

In LaFuze fashion I am behind in posting this, but we also jetted from one trip to another.  After we debarked our cruise on Friday morning, we gassed up, and hit the road for Big Bear to attend Daniel's cousin's wedding.  We don't like wasting any time!  This was actually my first time going to Big Bear (and I feel so crazy saying that since we are only 2 1/2 hours away).  What a gorgeous, quaint, lovely town filled with character, charm, and beautiful views.  The weddings was held at an estate and we stayed with family two doors down in a barn house.  Our weekend was filled with large family breakfasts, people sprawled everywhere, setting up for the rehearsal dinner, preparing to move the wedding due to a lovely little thunder storm, strolling in The Village, and of course so much laughter and love that your heart felt like it grew two sizes in everyone's presence. 

Weddings have a way with me.  It never fails that as soon as the wedding march begins, those tear ducks just burst open, and the sentiments keep rolling.  This ceremony was a bit nontraditional, as the bride walked down to Led Zeplin, but the sentiments remained.  Tear-strewn vows were lovingly stated, and it just reminded me how much love two people really have for one another.  I remember saying my vows with uncontrollable shaking hands, the tears that burst the minute it was time to walk down the isle, and the head tilted smile I gave my husband at our first glance through the "walk".  

Daniel's grandparents stole the show during the reception during the dance to see which couple has been married the longest.  As the DJ kept calling out years, this kept raising a thumb telling him to go higher, until he finally reached it...56!  They have been married 56 years.  And to this day, it just blows me away.  Such love.  Coming from a family sewn together through the divorces, it is always an encouragement to see marriage live.  The see love live.  To see two people love each other so much that they will love for better or worse.  Marriage is a beautiful thing, and what makes it that way are couples who are a testament to the faith and dedication it takes to make it work.  Because there will be hard times.  There will be many "sorrys".  But for every sorry there is I forgive you.  Weddings have a way of reminding me that it isn't about the small things, the things we wish our husbands would remember (putting their socks in the clothes hamper :) )...marriage is about LOVE.  And I love my husband with a deep passion that continues to grow more and more each day.  It always seems to catch me off guard to think that we have been together for almost 10 years now, that we are having a baby, that our marriage is about to take on different obstacles, and that we have gotten through the sorry and I forgive you, and will go through 100's more.  Marriage is sacred, and I hope that one day my children will be looking at us in awe as we dance away while the DJ keeps calling higher numbers for the years we have been married.  I want my marriage to be a testament to the love and respect that marriage is, and that my husband knows how grateful I am for such a God-loving husband.