Life Lately

ello there! This has been a strange season, huh? I've gained so many perspectives through this whole thing. I'm sure I'll open up about it soon. Until then, I thought my typical life lately post would do for now. Nothing too grand is happening, but grateful to be healthy. I hope you all are hanging in there too!! 

Watching...
One Tree Hill. Shocker, I'm late to the party once again. Anyone else obsessed with this show? Honestly, I knew nothing about it but it's been on my list for a while now, because of Chad Michael Murray. All the drama and plots are genius. Torn between the two brothers, but I'm gonna have to say, team, Lucas.

Completed...
My first ever embroidery piece. It's a modern design and I love this type of stitching so much. Abstract patterns are so freeing, as I don't have the pressure of messing up. Cross stitching is still definitely a favorite, but I love exploring new stitches. Plus, I'm learning how to incorporate beads and sequences to add texture.

Listening...
To a lot of new songs from different artists. A few faves, Sundays by Emotional Orange, My Wildest Dreams by Ron Pope, Something New by Wiz Khalifa feat. Ty Dolla Sign, I Got You by Bazzi, and Everybody Busines by Kehlani.

Trying...
Everything to just stay grateful right now. A wave of emotions come and go just about every day, as this pandemic is hard. One minute I'm pissed, overwhelmed, confused, sad, hopeful, and then grateful. It repeats all the time. I suppose that it apart of coping. But, to be grateful feels the most satisfying, as it springs joy and contentment. Even when it feels dark, I just say thank you Lord that I am breathing right now.

Wishing...
I could just walk through a craft store with a coffee in my hand. A destination worth driving to and from. Sit on the sand and watch the sun sink into the ocean. Have a meaningful conversation with a person across from me over dinner.

Reading...
To All The Boys I've Loved Before series by Jenny Han. I was hesitant about reading the books, as I watched the movie first. Once again, the book is ten times better than the movie. The characters of Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky come alive and connect in a deeper way. It's like I've just been given a ticket backstage of my favorite band. lol. Highly recommend.

Crafting Memories | My Travel Art Journal

have finally found my version of scrapbooking and today I thought I'd share all about it. Especially due to being cooped up inside, no thanks to COVID-19. But, what better time to become creative and productive right? I hope you all are staying safe and healthy. More on that later in a "the heart of it" post! So, throughout the years I have filled many notebooks and journals that somehow formed a mixture of all photographs, journaling, and stickers to remember my travels or friends. Yet, they were ever-changing as I never felt like they captured what I wanted. This past summer I got inspired by Dana's version from WildWeRoam as she used one giant notebook to hold the drawings of her adventures. I just loved how she used all mediums on one page. So, I picked up the same exact journal and began my own art journal to savor my memories of travel.


This has helped me so much mentally. Putting together these spreads fills me with so much gratitude. Plus these layouts give so much purpose to my photographs! For this journal of mine, I have ditched one rule I use to live by; don't just share the new places you've traveled to, but everything in-between. It's not about the top cities I've been able to fly to or beaches I've never seen. Rather, to display some beautiful moments that highlighted a particular season for me.

So, the journal I have is very sturdy with thick pages, which means I can drown each page in paint, washi tape, polaroids, paper, etc. From the photos below you can see how I use each place I've been to as the theme for the overall color palette and paper patterns. Ahh, I just have been loving this entire process. Below I included some of my favorite supplies with links so you can check them out too! Are you into crafting with photographs? Share below if you do too! :)

MY NOTEBOOK | JELLY ROLL PENS | ROSE GOLD WASHI TAPE | PAPER MEMOPAD | TOMBOW BRUSH PENS | BUTTERFLY STAMP | RIFLE PAPER CO STICKERS |

7 Ways I'm Investing In Myself

elf-development is something I am rolling over into 2020 from last year. It truly has been a part of my life for quite some time, yet now it is evolving into an active awareness for me as I navigate new chapters. It is a constant struggle to keep myself in balance but the rewards of showing up for myself are great. So, here are seven ways I'm investing in myself currently.

Take up a new hobby 
One of the best things I've ever done for my psyche was to expand my hobbies. It is so easy to get lost on my iPhone with social media or Youtube vlogs. And honestly, my eyes needed a break from the computer screen. I needed to stop scrolling and start doing. So, last summer I re-taught myself how to cross-stitch. I absolutely love it so much, and now I'm diving into the world of embroidery, something I really don't know much about. But, hey that's why there's YouTube, right?


Never miss an eyebrow appointment 
Yep, maintaining my eyebrow shape means a lot to me. I've been doing it since I was about eleven or twelve and I've never looked back since. Somehow it livens up my face, making me feel so much more like myself.


Have a sugar detox 
I am currently on my second (super serious) sugar detox and it always helps my body mentally and physically. Sugar is my weakness and saying goodbye to it for a while is one of the best ways I know how to respect my body. It makes my mind feel more clear, I don't have withdraw headaches, and no more afternoon slumps. A sugar detox is a challenging investment and one that won't be a regular lifestyle habit in my life, but it's one that needs to take place a few times out of the year.


Read all the books 
As an English major, I love learning through the lens of other people's lives. Whether it's within a fiction piece or an autobiography novel it is one of my favorite ways to discover my own personal development. Reading just provides so many beautiful perspectives to view the world.


Put words to paper
Journaling has been such a powerful tool in my life. It is a practice I would love to invest in more, but I find it is a slow process to develop. Somethings are hard to navigate and when I write it all makes sense. I just love how such memories are able to be saved forever, never forgotten.


Spend quality time with my family 
Growing up I've always been taught that friends can come and go but family is forever. The best thing I can do for myself is to be surrounded by my loved ones who truly know me and my greatest passions all while encouraging me through them. Being around my family is such a blessing and they bring out the best of me.


Travel to new places 
Ahh, traveling gives me so much joy. Experiencing new cultures and lifestyles is so refreshing. Through the process of seeing and trying new things radiates a whole new perspective for my life and I love that feeling.

It's Called Growth | Heart&Pen

when you have the audacity to 
look into my eyes and say 
I am no longer the same 
I proudly remind you 
it's called growth 
which I can not do around you


- Jenna Leigh Condon 

My 2020 Resolutions

Ahhh 2020 is here. A fresh new start to enjoy whatever comes my way. I've always loved resolutions but this year is a little different for me. There is a lot of pressure I put on myself to become better than ever in everything. But, I'm trying to put that thought behind me and focus on letting this year be whatever it will be for me. I don't have any plans or big dreams to chase, other than some goals I'm excited to tackle. I learned a lot during this last decade as it held my high school and college days. I just think it's so neat to be entering the 20's in my twenties, lol. Anyways, here are my resolutions.

1. Learn embroidery // For Christmas, I received a lot of the materials needed to start new projects. I have experience with cross-stitch, but it will be fun to learn new types of stitches.

2. Speak more kindly to myself // I've said it before, but I can be very hard on myself. Well, that is why last year my word was grace. Words have a lot of power, and the ones that run through my head every single day need to be more uplifting and full of gratitude this new year.

3. Have more faith // I hope to grow in the word and trust God more deeply.

4. Explore new places // California is so beautiful and I've lived here my whole life with so many more places to experience. I hope to do a lot more day trips to LA and San Diego!

5. Focus on my health // Physically and mentally my health needs to become more of a priority.

6. Maintain my bullet journal // Ahh, I'm so excited to have found such a neat community of fellow bullet journal enthusiasts. The concept of keeping a journal full of stationery and personal thoughts is just right up my alley. I hope to share a few entries soon this year!

My word for 2020 is grow. To grow in all areas of my life. I hope to plant my roots deeply in my faith, shed sunlight on my creative hobbies, water my friendships, and bloom into a more self-confident, independent, and strong version of who I am today. My desire is to grow tall no matter the seasons my anxiety brings. To grow in the freedom of saying no to certain expectations. To grow through my fears. To grow during the joyful moments. To grow in writing and poetry. I'm so excited to see where this year takes me, as I hold onto this word tightly. The words I chose to live by every year are the ones I silently repeat over and over in my mind and heart, as a reminder that everything is going to be okay.



"If you are outgrowing who you've been, you are right on schedule. Keep evolving." 

Taking Time To Reflect: Little Lessons of 2019

How do I even begin to sum up 2019? It's been a long year for me. Saying goodbye to the world I have poured every ounce of myself into was definitely a new challenge. I earned my degree in English and I couldn't be more proud of accomplishing my life long dream. Yet, it was hard to let it go and enter the unknown. Summer felt long this year, but our family vacation in Ventura felt refreshing. I quit my job in retail (woohoo) and took a full-time position at a consulting firm. It feels amazing to be able to begin paying off my student loans. This year I honestly felt so creative and I hope to explore new avenues next year.

Well, I truly don't know what 2020 will have in store for me. It's the first time in my entire life where I don't have any plans. I am just going to take life in short moments and enjoy what comes my way. Before I share my new year's resolutions, let's recap this past year.

1. // You can do anything you put your mind to, even if it takes time. If you forget, just think back to May when you received your degree.

2. // This year I found a love for poetry. I can't wait to slowly begin sharing them on the blog.

3. // I started an art travel journal. I just love using photographs, paint, washi tape, and paper to keep create such a memorial page of my adventures. It's so much more enjoyable when I print out my photos and do something special with them (unlike posting them on Instagram).

4. When I was young I use to cross stitch all the time. I would make tiny little cats or dogs. Somehow I lost the hobby all together come Jr. High. But, this year I began learning the craft all over again and it is my favorite past-time yet.

5. I met my celebrity crush, Jesse McCartney. I think our selfie turned out pretty cute.

6. Back in May, I was a bridesmaid for the second time for my best friend since second grade, Emily. I just love weddings.

7. Going to the Mission Inn Hotel with my mom to celebrate my graduation was just the best.

8. And I ended the year with my sister at Disneyland!