It’s June- whoa! Bring on the summer months.
This week I finish nothing, but start a couple things. I share my growing polymer clay charm collection, confess my daily sin battle, and show off some summer eats.
(Not so) Finished Objects
Nothing to see here! My Over-the-Top Top by Purl Soho is dangerously close to being finished. I hope to have it done before next Friday.
WIP’s- Focus Projects
I started two things this past week. The first is my long awaited Canyon cardigan by Devin Ventre aka Knitty McPurly. At the lake last weekend I worked my way through a good third of the back portion. I’m using Suburban Stitcher Sock in her colorway “Cinder”. I’m loving it!
My second cast on was inspired by Lauren from Lolodidit. For the first time ever I won a knitting giveaway!!! I was so psyched to get some yarn from one of my favorite companies. You know I had to choose a Harry Potter colorway. My beautiful skein of “Polyjuice Potion” arrived so quickly! It didn’t even make it into the yarn closet before I decided to cast on a Baby Vertebrae. {You can never have to many baby gifts ready to go.} I’m making the newborn size so that I have enough of this skein left for a shortie pair of socks.
Something New
I’ve been quite naughty lately when it comes to progress keepers. I just swoon over those tiny bits of polymer clay. Do you have any idea how much work goes into each tiny charm?! I love watching the timelapse videos of artists making itsy little bits of food.
So I ordered from SucreSucre Miniatures… and Simply Serving… AND Sweet Cherry Shop… oops! Check out my cute goodies!
What God’s Teaching Me
This week’s lesson from God is brought to you in part from the book I started last week: Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis {her lifestyle site here}. Let’s dive into her chapter titled “The Lie: I’m Better Than You.” Hang on one second while I swallow my pride…
I am one of the most judgmental people I know. I’m sure there are people who criticize more than I do, but I’m the only one {besides God} who knows my own thoughts; therefore I’m the most judgy person I know about. My thoughts run like lines from Mean Girls. I’m constantly observing and comparing everything happening around me. “Her highlights are so streaky. How could her friends let her walk around like that?” “Wow, that guy works out way too much. I bet he’s completely self-absorbed.”
Who does that? More importantly, why? Why, why, why do these thoughts pop up in my mind? Even worse, I sometimes say them out loud without thinking. My husband tells me often that I need to stop being so judgy. Let me tell you something, honey. I want it to stop!
Back to Rachel’s book. Rachel shares a story of when she made fun of another girl in middle school for doing something that she {Rachel} totally did herself. Pot, meet Kettle. Rachel asks, “Why do we do it ladies… why do we rag on each other?” I’m wondering the same thing, Rachel- tell me why!
She asked three questions that I decided to answer.
- Does it {judging} make us feel better about ourselves? My answer: yes, and then no. I feel superior in the moment and then a whole lot guilt.
- Does it make us feel safer to mock someone who has stepped outside of the parameters we deem acceptable? My answer: the truth is yes, even if I’ve previously behaved in the same “unacceptable” way.
- If we can point out their flaws, does doing so diminish our own? My answer: ouch… is that what I’m doing? I think yes.
Then here’s when Rachel’s words really hit me: “In so many instances judgment comes from a place of feeling as though you’ve somehow got it all figure out when they do not.” Ding, ding, ding- that’s my reason. This is why I am so quick to judge. I want people to think I’ve got it all figured out. That each and every intention I have is deliberate {it usually is!}. So haughty me thinks that what I’ve decided is what should be. I realize that this makes me a huge hypocrite. Hey! God and I are working on it, with a lot of help from my darling husband.
In so many instances judgment comes from a place of feeling as though you’ve somehow got it all figure out when they do not.
– Rachel Hollis in Girl, Wash Your Face
So this week I’ve tried Rachel’s tip: every time you find yourself judging someone, think about something positive about them instead. Mindset change. It’s a challenge.
I highly recommend her book for women in any stage of life. I recommended it at my local library and they bought it!
Also, Rachel, I shave my toes too.
What We’re Cooking
After the long weekend, I only needed to cook one meal this week. I went for one of my freezer-to-crockpot meals from Thirty Handmade Days- Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki.
On Tuesday we had it with baby carrots drizzled with honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. I cooked them for ten minutes on 400 degrees, stirred them around a bit, then back into the oven for another ten minutes. Cooked… roasted? This left them still a little crunchy- which we enjoyed!
Wednesday was date night, so we ate our fill of chips and salsa at a local Mexican restaurant. On Thursday, there was still plenty of chicken teriyaki left. I sliced up some zucchini and cooked it in olive oil on the stove. Cooked… sautéed??? Can you tell that I still don’t know proper cooking terms?
I’ve also been enjoying lemon water this week. Just two lemons sliced fairly thin, add water, and keep in the fridge. It’s so refreshing!
For lunch I made this cucumber and tomato mix marinated in Zesty Italian dressing. I plan to add avocados for a yummy summer salad.
What I’m Reading
I’m still reading Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis {which you can read all about in the What God’s Teaching Me section above} and listening to Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. But I’m looking for what I want to read next!
What would you suggest?
One thought on “Hello, June and Judgement”