The Crafty and Curious

September: The Month in Media

2014-10-01T16:48:00.002-06:00

September was an excellent media month. Here are a few of my favorite books, movies and songs from last month.

· Best Movie: Begin Again

“A chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents.” -IMDb

This movie starring Keira Knightley was stellar. I loved the music in the film! Kiera might not be Mariah Carey, but she has a very pleasant, sweet voice. Another good movie this month was: “If I Stay”

· Best Fictional Book: Attachments by Rainbow Rowell

Okay so I actually read this a few months ago, but it was amazing! For sure this was one of my favorite books of the year. It made me laugh so much and the story was so sweet! If you are feeling depressed, you should read this book. I’m 99% sure it will lift your spirits

· Best Pop Song: Shake it Off by Taylor Swift

I love Taylor Swift and I’m not ashamed to admit it. While this song doesn’t have much emotional depth, it is straight up toe-tapping fun. The first night I heard this song I couldn’t stop dancing. It is a real pick-me-up and it makes me happy. I can’t wait to hear the rest of 1989

· Best Non-fiction Book: The Social Animal by David Brooks

I haven’t actually finished this book, but so far it has been fascinating and I’ve learned a lot. It’s about how your subconscious effects your actions. If you are into psychology or just like learning new things you should read this.

· Other Amazing Songs:

I mentioned “If I Stay” came out and I have to say the soundtrack was excellent. A few of my favorites from it are: Halo by Linnea Olsson, Heal by Tom Odell, Promise by Ben Howard, I will be there by Odessa, Until we get there by Lucius, and Today By Willamette Stone.

Well, that rounds up the “Best ofs” for this month.

Enjoy,

Deborah

Through the Glass

2014-08-30T08:19:00.001-06:00

“Where my feet will take me I know not,

But I know of the bliss in the journey,

Through the darkest night to the brightest dawn,

All I can do is put one foot in front of the other.”

I love taking road trips. This might surprise some people because I have a large family and we trek across the country in a slightly embarrassing fifteen passenger van with a trailer. Nevertheless, feeling the rumble of the road and watching the miles go by are some of my favorite things.

Usually I’ll put on some John Mayer…

*Pause:

I love John Mayer, like a lot! He has a super smooth voice (think butter) and is an excellent guitarist, plus he’s easy on the eyes. He is probably my favorite musical artist. His albums have become sequentially more country, which typically I don’t like (county that is), but his last album was surprisingly my favorite. On a side note, “Paradise Valley” (his last album) was titled about the place where he lives which happens to be only an hour from here! Favorite songs currently:

· You're No One Till Someone Lets You Down

· Wildfire

· Dear Marie

*Resume:

After I put on the John Mayer I'll either read or write poetry (Like the above poem) or just gaze out the window. Sometimes I really want to get things done, but can't because I'm too transfixed by the loveliness on the other side of the glass. I could take a million pictures but none could encompass the beauty I’ve seen through my window.

“Oh what are men compared to rocks and mountains”

–Jane Austen

If you liked this poem you can check out my Instagram account @thecraftyandcurious for many more.

This Moment.

2014-08-23T10:39:00.001-06:00

"There is an ache in my soul,

To go somewhere,

To do something,

To be someone,

But as I gaze over,

This great expanse

Of sun and sky and mountains,

I realize this moment,

Is exactly where I need to be"

-D. J. R.

I often feel like my life isn't enough. I watch movies and read books and then I long to go where the characters go and to feel what they feel. Kind of like a longing for places I've never been and things I've never felt.

I wrote this poem one day while I was traveling, we were only about an hour on the road, and I looked out the window and was filled with a sense of peace and belonging. I realized the beauty and value of remaining in each moment for only a moment and then moving on.

Now, whenever I feel discontented, I read over this poem and remember that day; and I'm free.

Rainy Days

2014-08-03T19:45:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I feel like I don't want to do anything – not like I want to relax. Rather, everything sounds boring and awful and it never did before. I feel hopeless – like everything is futile so why do anything at all? All I want to do is sit or sleep or listen to gloomy music, but most of all I want to escape from this feeling. In the past I've called it aimlessness, but I think it’s really a form of depression. It comes upon me for a few days and then it leaves almost as suddenly and I’m perfectly fine again. But it never fails to revisit me. It makes me feel like I'm lost at sea. I wrote this poem about it:

"By chance" right before I posted this I came across a bible verse that reads:

“In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation."

1 Peter 5:10

Standing in Wonder

2014-06-29T22:32:00.000-06:00

Today was wonderful.

It was raining heavily and a little bit cold. I went hiking (with my good friend Alice). Everything was alive and green. By the end my hair was soaking, water was dripping from my nose, my hands were numb and it was perfect.

Then I went and sat in my tent and listened to the soft pitter-patter of the rain mixed with murmuring voices and bird song. And all I could think was…

“What a beautiful thing it is to be alive – Simply to draw breath. I am so blessed.”

Seriously, don’t we have an extraordinary world? Through sun or rain, whether day or night there is always something to stand in wonder of. It makes me think of a quote by G. K. Chesterton:

“We are perishing for want of wonder, not want of wonders”

Don't fall into the trap of taking things for granted. Every sunrise, every raindrop, every breath is a gift.

Endings

2014-06-25T22:35:00.001-06:00

I hate this feeling - the feeling you get when a really good book ends.

The sadness that washes over you - When you almost start to cry - even though the ending was perfect. It's like having a dream, a beautiful, mesmerizing dream, and then waking up to a grey reality - lacking in passion and color and light. After these types of books I always feel as though I'm waiting for my life to begin, like I should be out there doing something.

I find that this ^ is what makes a truly good book for me - a book that I want to read over and over again. Few books make it to that level and they’re usually classics like “The Lord of The Rings” or “Rose in Bloom.” I’m always in search of these types of books, which is ironic because I feel depressed after reading them. It is kind of a “beautiful depression” though, if that makes any sense.

Poem: "Stagnant Waters"

2014-06-19T20:30:00.001-06:00

Blurred Perception: A Poem

2014-05-05T13:14:00.001-06:00

"Beautiful longing

Terrible longing

You confuse me

You complete me

This wonderful feeling

Fills me with fear

The lines are blurred,

My judgements shady

One minute it's Yes

One minute it's No

Do I put aside my reservations?

Or embrace them?

You are so beautiful

You terrify me."

Poem of The Week: The Poetic Underground

2014-04-09T11:33:00.000-06:00

Via : The Poetic Underground

I recently discovered Erin Hanson and her Tumbr blog: The Poetic Underground. I absolutely love her poetry, her poems are simple and beautiful, I was surprised by how many I could relate too. They are truly excellent. My Favorite is the one above entitled: “Not.” You can check out The Poetic Underground here.

Enjoy,

Deborah

April Booklist

2014-04-07T11:54:00.000-06:00

1. Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Bernadette has a wild heart, but after months of living in Seattle (which she hates) she pulls inside of herself, and becomes somewhat of a recluse. But her daughter, Bee hatches a plan to draw her out and back into the world.

I've heard this book is really funny and I’m excited to read it!

2. Messenger by Lois Lowry

When I read “The Giver” and “Gathering Blue” in middle school I always felt like they were incomplete. I didn't realize until a few weeks ago that was because there are two more books in the series “Messenger” and “Son.” So I’ve decided to read them both before "The Giver" movie comes out in August.

3. Wild by Cheryl Strayed

This book detailing Cheryl Strayed”s 1,100 mile hike to healing has been everywhere lately – On blogs, in magazines, and on the display table at the library (To name a few places) an while at first I stayed away because I don't generally love memoirs (excepting “The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion which was excellent), I decided to give it a shot mostly because of all the positive reviews I've read on it.

Have Your read any of the above books? What did you think of them?

Enjoy,

Deborah

Creating Positive Surroundings.

2014-03-13T12:09:00.001-06:00

One way to increase positive thinking is to immerse yourself in positive surroundings.

That doesn't mean you have to pack up and move to Malibu it can very well mean doing small things. For instance, opening the curtains when it's sunny or putting on relaxing music. In order to best immerse myself with uplifting surroundings, I decided to De-clutter. For me having a clean home is like having a clean slate - a pristine canvas ready for creative explosion. Anyways, I’ve spent the last few days sorting through papers and doing basic organizing. I reorganize about once a month, so it only takes a day or so. I would encourage you to put aside a weekend to organize, make sure you give yourself enough time to be thorough.

- Deborah

A Brew Will See You Through Print

2014-02-18T07:51:00.000-07:00

Via Watersounds

As a coffee/tea semi-addict, when I saw this print on tumblr a few weeks ago it really caught my attention. This is probably one of my favorite prints I've seen recently and I love that it comes from a fellow Etsy seller: Sarah Abbott. You should go check out her shop Watersounds.

Enjoy, Deborah

A Poem on Feeling Aimless

2014-01-22T18:02:00.000-07:00

I took this a few days ago while skiing.

This is a poem I found recently that I wrote a while ago. I wrote it during a time when I was feeling aimless - so small and insignificant; as if I never had done anything truly important. I don't suppose I've done anything really significant since them, but rather I've realized that it's the people around you that you touch, which is far more important than where you work or what you've done. I don't think i'll every truly know how much I effect other people, whether that be in a good way or otherwise. Anyways, here's the poem:

I am reaching for something I cannot attain – for a light that will ever glow, for a love that seems to hide it's face. Thoughts of purpose drift through me - a river of music running up ahead. I want to sleep – to dream of light, of love, of courage, of peace... a state of genuine awe at this strange thing we call life.

Reliving My Favorite Disney Movies:

2014-01-19T23:15:00.000-07:00

I saw Frozen the other week and it made me want to watch all my favorite Disney (and Pixar) movies:

1. Frozen

2. Beauty and The Beast

3. The Lion King

4. Up

5. Tangled

6. Mulan

That's Just a few out of the many. What's your Favorite Disney Movie?

DIY Notebook Cover

2014-01-12T23:17:00.000-07:00

The other day I was getting rid of stuff when I came across my old Pottery Barn magazines and remembered a pin I saw a while ago of a notebook cover. I used a regular composition book, and taped a magazine page on and I finished the book off with a quote on the inside cover.

How I'm Going to Keep up My Resolutions:

2014-01-06T13:13:00.003-07:00

1. Apps – I love apps (I seriously have an app addiction!) and I've found they really help me to stay on track of my goals and stick to them. My three favorite productivity apps are:

•Lift (Free)

– A community of people all trying to make and break habits – lift helps me to be accountable.

• Begin (Free or .99 for upgrade)

– My favorite to do list app – is simple but stylish; especially if you purchase the extend feature for different themes, fonts and other premium options.

• Canary (Free)

– I was reluctant to try Canary out at first, because it doesn't have iCal sync (they are working on that); but I love the formatting and customization options so much I decided to switch from my previous favorite – Cal.

2. Printables - other than apps, write-on calendars and other organizational printables is a good way to keep focused.

• Write-on calendar

– I really love this one, it's a little bit odd because it starts on a Monday; but nevertheless it's my favorite I've found so far.

• Week planner

– This is where I put my more detailed to-dos and appointments.

• Monthly list calendar

- I write down the thing I want to accomplish most on this each day.

3. Work and determination

• It's easy to plan with fancy apps and calendars, but no matter how much you glam it up it’s still work. What it comes down to is determination – for which I'm striving to possess.

Enjoy,

Deborah

5 Movie Adaptions to See

2013-11-13T10:37:00.002-07:00

1. The Book Thief

I actually haven’t read this book yet, but I've heard so many glowing reviews and the movie trailer looks so good! (November 8)

2. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug

The Lord of the Rings are my all-time favorite movies and the first Hobbit was delightful. (December 13)

3. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

I loved all the books and the first movie and I can’t wait to see new characters (like Finnick!) in action. (November 22)

4. Divergent

Even though I’m not a fan of Allegiant, I am still excited to seen Divergent. (March 21)

5. The Fault in Our Stars

The movie I’m most excited for is consequently the longest wait. The Fault in Our Stars is such an amazing book, I love it so much! (June 6)

What Movie adaptions are you looking forward too?

Spoiler Alert: The No. 1 Reason Why you Should Never Ever Ever Read Allegiant

2013-10-23T13:23:00.000-06:00

If you're a fan of Divergent, like I was until a few days ago, you should steer clear of Allegiant, the third and final book of this dystopian trilogy. I'm not really a fan of sad endings, but if the book is good enough, I can take it (like "The Fault in Our Stars"). Not so with Allegiant, I felt like the death of Tris was pointless and I can't imagine what was going through Veronica Roth's head. A lot of us read fiction as an escape from the imperfections of the real world, when it comes to fiction we don't expect realism and don't want it. I agree with most other reviewers: read the first two books and imagine your own ending. I realize this isn't really a review of the whole book, but the end. For a more in-depth review check out Erin Morgan's review on amazon, She says It all with eloquence. What did you think of Allegiant?

Poetry

2013-09-28T22:56:00.001-06:00

I love poetry! I never read it till I read “Broken Open” (a super-inspiring self-help type book by Elizabeth Lesser) anyways, Elizabeth talks about Rumi’s poems so much in the book and I thought I would give them a shot. I got “A Year with Rumi” by Coleman Banks on my kindle and started reading. At first I didn’t really understand half of what he was trying to convey, but the poems mesmerized me and now they’ve become a daily (well almost daily). One of my recent favorites is: “Whatever Gives Pleasure:”

"Whatever gives pleasure

is the fragrance of a friend.

Whatever makes us wonder

comes from the light.

What is inside the ground

begins to sprout

because you spilled wine there.

What dies in autumn comes up in spring

because this way of saying no

becomes in spring your praise-song, yes."

Enjoy,

Deborah

September Precept: Harmony

2013-09-08T16:01:00.001-06:00

Via Typographic Verses

All situations are helped when we make an effort to get along and understand other people’s point of view. This is especially important in the home. Don’t waste the time you have with your family in squabbles. Make an effort to listen to the opinions of people around you, maybe you’ll end up frustrated; but you might just learn something valuable, something important. It’s worth the risk.

The (notable) Books I Read This Summer:

2013-09-02T09:25:00.000-06:00

Sorry for the long absence! These are the best of the many books i read over the summer:

1. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice

· This is a Sherlock Holmes Spin-off by Laurie R. King, about the friendship and eventual partnership between him and Mary Russell, a young genius. My favorite part was the quick-witted banter between Mary and Sherlock.

2. Life of Pi

· This was a very interesting book. I don’t quite know what to make of it, but it was quite intriguing. Pi Patel believes in Christianity, Hinduism and Buddhism; which put an interesting spin on things. It is the perfect story for adventure fanatics.

3. All The Harry Potter’s

· I recently jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon; I was skeptical at first but thoroughly enjoyed all of them. I’m sure you’ve heard before, this is a really good series nuff’ said.

… And to anyone who hasn’t read The Fault in Our Stars, I finished it a while ago and it was truly unforgettable, not to mention emotionally shattering.

Enjoy,

Deborah