Sunday, March 24, 2013

A Year Ago Yesterday

On that day (March 23, 2012) I decided, rather abruptly, that I wanted to make a blog. I'd been reading a few blogs for some time (like Natalie Lloyd's and Katie's). I decided that it seemed like a pretty fun thing to do, so I started my blog, titled it "Confessions of a Self-Proclaimed Nerd" and wrote my first post. I started out with a cutest blog on the block template and posted like mad. This was my first header:
That title was very impromptu and I soon decided that I didn't like it as much as I thought I did. About a month later I changed its name to "The Great Perhaps", having been inspired by John Green's Looking for Alaska. Along with that I changed my url. I chose a new template, and this was my new header:
This one stuck for quite a bit longer, but then in October I changed it once again to it's current title, Serendipity. I feel that this title finally fits perfectly. After all, that's really what this little blog is about.

Over the year that I've been blogging, my style has changed a lot. I appreciate those of you that have stuck with me from the very beginning, figuring out what I want this blog to be. Now I think it is everything that I want it to be. I don't post as much, but I don't make as many frivolous posts either. Everything I post about, no matter how small, means so much to me. This blog, as the title and description state, is made up of all of the little things that make me happy, the things that make my little world go round. I love reading your comments and making connections with you over these things. There may not be very many of you, but I value each and every one of you reading this right now. You're part of why I love blogging so much. I'm looking forward to another year just as enjoyable as the past one.
♥♥Kristin

Saturday, March 23, 2013

Some Pinspiration

Because, let's face it, who isn't at least slightly addicted to Pinterest? I've really been getting into it again. Here's some of what I've been loving lately:
Can I just go here now? Because this is seriously gorgeous.
So, so easy to forget, but so important to remember.
 Pinterest knows me so well.
This just makes my heart smile. This was probably my favorite movie as a child. My friend and I would rewind the part with the animated barnyard animals singing and watch it again and again, laughing just as hard each time.
How true is this? Honestly, March daylight savings is the worst.
These cookies though. They look fantastic. I pin entirely too much food.
I just want summer so badly.
Oof. This is almost so true it hurts.
And finally, who doesn't love a little grumpy cat? I want one.

You can see my Pinterest boards here. I think it's safe to say I have a little bit of a problem.

In other news, today is my blogoversary! It's been a whole year since I started this little blog and I think it's come pretty far. A year-summary post is coming, hopefully tomorrow but perhaps on Monday. Until then, auf wiedersehen.
♥♥Kristin



Sunday, March 17, 2013

Things Books Have Taught Me

via
As a voracious reader, I have learned quite a few things from books that go beyond the knowledge they contain.
1. Some of the best books start off slowly. The same applies in life: don't give up, and you'll be rewarded with a fantastic plot line, or if you're lucky, a fairy-tale ending.
2. No matter how much you may want to keep reliving the comfort of familiar words, you have to turn the page to find out what happens next.
3.  When one chapter is over it may feel like the end, but there's a new one unfolding and who knows? It may just make everything worthwhile.
4. You're not going to like every book and that's okay, because for every book out there that isn't worth your time, there are a dozen that are.
5. Here's the cliche one I'm sure you all knew was coming (that doesn't make it any less true): You really can't judge a book by it's cover: bent pages, cracked spines and horrendous movie remake covers can house the story that may change your life.

♥♥Kristin

Friday, March 8, 2013

My Favorite Kind of Nature

This right here ^^ is my favorite kind of nature. My "wanderlust" board on pinterest is absolutely covered with trees and woods and sun-dappled forest floors. I love each of my family's many vacations to the mountains, be it spending time at the cabin or camping with my cousins or the annual church camping trip. I love the solitude, the sounds of birds chirping and squirrels chattering in the trees. I love the fresh, green smell and the way the sun filters through the leaves. There's nothing quite like spending time in the woods to erase my worries and make me feel at peace. There's no better way to spend an almost-Spring Sunday afternoon than traipsing through the trees, camera in hand, remembering what it's like to be free. The boy recently mentioned to me that he likes hiking as well, so this Sunday, after church, I believe we'll do just that.
♥♥Kristin

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Our Story

 A little bit of my story with him so far
     It's strange, but with many of the people that I am closest to, I can't quite put my finger on the moment when they stopped being an acquaintance and started to become so much more in my little life. I can remember the before, and I'm living in the after, but the middle is just a blur to me. It was the same with him. I can ever so vaguely remember the first day that he worked, and I can remember that I didn't really think he was anyone special. Just another new person who may only last a few months (how wrong I was). Everyone else seemed drawn to him and he formed many quick friendships with my coworkers, but for me I think it took a little longer. Quick friendships aren't usually my forte. I'm much to introverted for that. I can't remember much until a few months later when I remember him making a comment, something about how he liked working with me, and I remember that comment pretty much making my night, but I still didn't really make any connection. That was probably the beginning of our friendship, at least for me. Between that day (perhaps it was last January?) and this past summer, all I can really remember is talking and joking around at work and the occasional facebook conversation.
     I think this past summer is when I really started to consider the fact that he didn't feel like just a friend to me. Our group of friends at work began to do more things together, things like mini-golfing and going for ice cream and going to amusement parks. I began to pick apart the moments we spent together, trying to figure out if it was possible that he could be feeling any of the things that I was. Our friendship was growing, but I still didn't know if it had the potential to become anything more. I didn't really do much with these feelings I had for him, didn't tell anyone for fear it would get back to him, so I stuck to writing about them instead. Then, in August, the girl who I now consider to be one of my closest friends began to work with us. One day, completely nonchalantly, she asked me if I liked him. I was seriously taken aback, because I thought I'd been hiding it so well. It didn't take much prodding for me to admit it, and in the end it was a relief for another human being to know about it. The three of us (him, my best friend and me) had begun to hang out pretty regularly. She began telling me that she thought he liked me too, in fact that she was almost positive of it. I tried to brush this off, thinking she was just saying it to make me feel better. Not wanting to get my hopes up. Then about a month ago that wonderful girl sat the two of us down and said, though perhaps not in so many words, "You two like each other, and I'm sick of watching it."
     Once we both realized the truth, it didn't take long from there. It's been a little over a month now. He makes me smile every day. We're taking things slowly but we couldn't be happier. It makes me feel all mushy just writing this down. And wow, that was crazy long. I guess I just needed to write it all out. If you've made it this far, I commend you.
♥♥Kristin

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Handwritten Everything

I don't know what it is, but something about the action of hand writing anything - be it a journal entry or a study guide - is downright therapeutic for me. Maybe it's the concise motions of forming each letter with the tip of my pen, or maybe it's the satisfaction of seeing lines of neat, orderly words marching on. Probably some of both. I'll admit, I really pride myself on my handwriting. I think it's very neat and looks rather pretty. I'm often complimented on it. I think it's one of the things that calms and comforts me the most. The simple act of writing helps me to clear my head, to focus on what's in front of me and to let go of my frustrations. I prefer it to typing any day. If I could hand write my blog posts, believe me, I would. There's just something about it.
♥♥Kristin

Friday, March 1, 2013

Oh, Hey March!

This month....
-out to eat and adventure with the bests
-Spring! I'm oh-so-ready for a change in the season.
-spring break; a week off college :)
-spending more time with him
-ready for the stress of mid-term assignments to be over

What does March hold for you?
♥♥Kristin