Miss Potter

I don't know if any of you have already seen this movie, but if not I strongly recommend it. It's about the life of Beatrix Potter, the writer and illustrator of Peter Rabbit, among other stories. It details her struggle to get her stories published as well as an insight into what her life was like. There are so many reasons why I absolutely love the movie.

First of all, it always makes me think of a video I watched countless times when I was younger with several of her animated stories as well as sections with an actor's portrayal of her painting and writing her stories. A few years ago I happened to catch a few minutes of this movie when it aired on TV. Before that, I didn't even know it existed.

As you may know if you've been reading my blog for a while, I love to watch period dramas, which this definitely classifies as. I love the outfits, the fancy parties, and just overall seeing life in that time period right before my eyes.

One of my favorite aspects of the film is that it shows her interacting with her characters. Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Jemimah Puddle Duck and others tend to jump off the page when she draws them. It's added to the movie in a way that doesn't make it seem childish or unrealistic. Rather, it shows just how much Beatrix Potter actually cared for the characters she created.

Aren't her drawings the sweetest?

Another favorite part is when she visits the Lake District (and later moves there). As I mentioned in my previous post, it's an absolutely gorgeous place and this movie is what sparked my interest in it. I mean, just look! I'd love to explore this place:

There's so much more I could say about this movie, but I'll leave it at that. I don't want to give anything away! If you're into this kind of thing, I highly recommend Miss Potter.

It's That Time of Year

It's that time of year again. The time when I get that itch in the corner of my heart to go, see, and do. Normally I'm pretty content to be right where I'm at, but as the days start to get warmer and I'm shedding my cozy layers, I get wanderlust on the brain.

The Lake District

There are so many places I'd like to go. I want to go to England and visit the Lake District. I have ever since I watched Miss Potter (On a side note, highly recommend. That movie is beautiful. Maybe I'll do a post on it sometime...). I want to go to Spain and visit Seville. I want to eat gelato in Italy by the Mediterranean. I want to see Angel Falls in Venezuela. I want to tour a lighthouse in Maine. I want to run my hand across the bark of a Redwood tree in California. I want to hike through a misty forest in Washington.

There's so much I want to see and do, so many places I want to go, that I know there isn't time for all of it.  Still, a girl can dream.

Tightrope to the Sun

I think I've settled on a new blog title. If you looked at my blog at all in the past 12 hours, you would have seen a different title (and even a different "new title" post). I thought I had found the perfect title, until I happened to remember one of many failed tumblr blogs I'd started titled "Tightrope to the Sun". The title came from one of my favorite quotes from The Book Thief by Markus Zusak: "It was a Monday, and they walked on a tightrope to the sun." Something about the poetry of that phrase stays with me.

I always get myself into trouble by being too hasty, but I'm hoping that this time it will stick. The design is slightly new as well, though I mainly just tweaked the color scheme. I'm not very tech savvy, so unless someone volunteers to make a design for me, this is what you're gonna get. I kinda like the simple look anyway.

So, what do you guys think? Does the new title work for you? Also, a question for you tech-savvy people out there: is there a way to change my URL so that my blog keeps showing up in your feeds? Many thanks, in advance!

Anyway, a real post is coming soon!

Inconsistency

That's the word I'd use to describe my approach to blogging in the last few months (and that's putting it mildly). I attribute it partly to school and work that has kept me busy, as well as posting for The Book Chewers. Probably the bigger reason is that I have fallen into the trap of doing this for others rather than for myself. I started doing it for the pageviews, for the comments, for the followers.

Today I'm here to tell you that I'm going to start doing this for me again. Posting the things I want to post about. (Trying to) not care about the number of comments I get on each post, and whether I even get any. Now that it's summer, I really want to focus on that. And maybe there'll be a new blog name and design to help me get back into the mood.

Stay Tuned.

It's That Time of Year.

Everyone will soon be posting New Years resolutions and I thought I'd get a jump on it since the next few days will be too full for blogging. If you recall, last year I didn't really make any resolutions. In the span of time between then and now, I made a huge life decision (for me) to change my major from elementary education to business administration. So far it feels like a much better fit. I also gained a boyfriend and best friend all rolled into one. He really is wonderful, but I'll spare you the details.

As for this year, I have a few small resolutions I'd like to work on. In no particular order, here they are:

1. I want to make it a goal to save $5-10 from each of my paychecks to put towards buying myself one "big" nice thing. I also have a coffee tin with spare change in the bottom that I rediscovered in my bedroom and plan to add to it and eventually add that to the stash. By the end of the year, we'll see how much I have.

2. I want to maintain my goodreads profile more meticulously, recording every book I read for the year. I'll also make it a goal to read 30 books this year. That isn't a lot compared to what some people commit to, but for me it feels right. Sadly, I have too much going on in my life to read as much as I'd like.

3. I want to do my best to read my Bible more regularly and maybe even find a devotional book that I will stick to. It's something that I think about all the time but never really put any effort into changing. Now is as good a time as any.

So those are my resolutions for the year. Have you made any of your own?

♥♥Kristin

A Confession

Can I admit something? I am absolutely terrified that somehow, someday, out of the blue, something horrible will happen and my world will never be the same. I try to reassure myself, I pray about it almost constantly, but the fear still manages to creep in. I read posts about people getting cancer and dying, I hear about fatal car crashes in the news, and I can't help but worry that something like that will happen to someone I love. When The Boy doesn't text me soon after he gets home, I start to panic. When my Mom is a little late from work, I have to fight the urge to send her a text or call her. When my brother is at a late night movie with friends I cannot fall asleep until I hear him come in the door.
I know that it's a horrible way to live, but sometimes I just can't help it. The world can be such a terrifying place. It's hard to remember sometimes that my God is bigger than all this, that He will keep me and the ones I love safe (unless it is otherwise in His greater plan). Trust is hardest for me. I feel like I have to hold the weight of the world on my shoulders, and I forget too often that He took it upon himself for me. Remembering is hard, but I'm trying.

♥♥Kristin

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

 It was snowing and blowing today, the perfect day to sit inside with a good book, a fuzzy blanket and a cup of hot chocolate. It really cemented in my mind that Christmas is only fifteen days away. Fifteen, people! This is my favorite time of year. I love the way it just feels different than the rest of the year. More cheerful and bright. Christmas music is playing everywhere. Lights on every house make the night a little less dark. Happiness is everywhere. Tidings of comfort and joy. Charlie Brown Christmas trees (mine is sitting on my desk right now!).
 What's your favorite part of Christmas?
♥♥Kristin