MARCH FAVOURITES

Oh goodness. Today is the LAST DAY OF MARCH. That means....1/4 of this year is DONZO! Are you freaking out or rejoicing? I'm definitely the latter because that means summer is nearing us...PTL!!! I have some fun projects in store for April (starting with a free April calendar printable tomorrow yay!) but before that, let's look back on your favourite posts in March.

5. ONE WORD POSTS

Sarah & I shared our one words for 2015. These are my faves. There are a bunch more people who are yet to share, so look forward to more encouraging one word posts!

4. BAND WIFE LIFE

This past month, James officially joined Towers & Trees and I officially became a BAND WIFE. He just got back his first tour with them and there are two more coming up (including one 3 week one!!) so expect more band wife life posts!

3. ONE WORD BREAKFAST 2015

I hosted the annual ONE WORD BREAKFAST. We gathered, ate, shared, laughed, cried, and painted! And Amy Gary took pretty pictures.

2. OUR HOME // KITCHEN (BEFORE)

I shared the before photos of our kitchen and showed you what's inspiring me..can't wait for that reno!!!

1. WARDROBE // 10

And the most popular post from March was WARDROBE // 10. I wore my fave leggings ever and shared with you that we won that Mayfair contest...#booyah.

Well those are your favourite posts from March! Looking forward to April posts. I'd love to know what YOUR fave posts are...what would you like to see more of on SSHEART?

Until next time,

s.s.♥︎.

SALTED SKOR BIT COOKIES

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My Monday morning post is coming a little bit late to ya...sorry about that but MY MAN CAME HOME! Unfortunately he's a bit under the weather but whatevs, I'm just happy he's hooooome! I'm also happy I got to sleep in this morning :) 

Now today I baked you some cookies! Welllll, I actually baked these weeks ago, just forgot to post them...whoops! Fun little fact about these cookies...I made them when I was scared ha. I don't know about you but, I'm definitely one who bakes my emotions. Cookies just seem to be the answer when I'm FREEEAAAKKKKKKIIINNNGGG OUT. On this particular night, we had a little date night and were cuddling on the couch watching the movie, Whiplash. Fun right? NOT AT ALL. It was a good movie but GOSH STOP YELLING GUY. CHILLLL OUT. I honestly couldn't stand the yelling, and had to go to the kitchen and bake cookies immediately. Did you watch Whiplash? I'd loooove to know what you thought of it.

So anyways, when I made James try these cookies...he was all like "THESE ARE THE BEST COOKIES EVER!!!" Now he says that very often, but honestly, these guys are sooo yummy and super easy to bake. All you need is a little butter, sugar, skor bits and a good amount of fear.

SALTED SKOR BIT COOKIES

Ingredients:

• 2 Cups flour
• 2 tsp Baking soda
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp Ground ginger
• 3/4 cup Unsalted butter
• 1 1/4 cup Brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup Skor Bits
• Coarse Sea Salt

Directions:

1. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon & ginger in a bowl. 
2. In an electric mixer, mix butter & sugar. Beat on high until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla and mix.
3. Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix on low.
4. Add in Skor bits and mix with spatula.
5. Put dough in the fridge for 30 minutes.
6. Pre-heat oven to 350 and prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.
7. Scoop about 1 1/2 tbsp balls onto sheet and sprinkle with sea salt. 
8. Bake for 8-10 minutes.
9. Enjoy!!!

Recipe slightly adapted from Annies Eats.

Happy Monday! I'm off to do my long run....12.9km oh help me LORD!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

CURRENTLY

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Hello FriYAAAAAAY! Any weekend plans for you? James is on tour (boohoooo for me but yay for him, he's having a lot of fun!) so I'm keeping it low key...having dinner with some of the T&T girls yaaa #bandwifelife, celebrating my mama's birthday tomorrow and studying/writing papers (ewh)...

I saw this fun update on my friend Annie's blog and I thought it would be fun to do today....

CURRENTLY:

WEARING: long tanks & lulus. I'm finally buying a new pair of jeans tomorrow...yiiiip.

READING: All the Light we Cannot See. I'm slowly reading it but want to devour it because the next book on my list is GIRL ON A TRAIN...eeeeee.

WATCHING: GREYS!!!!! And the beautiful blossoms arriving on the pear tree in my backyard.

ANTICIPATING: My love coming home on Sunday.

WANTING: These GOLD birks

LISTENING: Hillsong United's new number- TOUCH THE SKY

CRAVING: Hagaan-Daz Salted Caramel Gelato...mmmhhhhmmmm.

REMEMBERING: How good the changing seasons are. Sunshine, blossoms, longer days...yes please. #ptL for SPRING.

What about you? What's currently happening in your realm?

Hope you have an amazing weekend! 

xo,

s.s.♥︎.

HAVING A BLUE MOMENT

I'm reaaaaally having a blue moment right now. Seriously, how good are all these? There's something just sooo calming about pale blue...I need that Le Creuset pot in MY LIFE.

1. Nail Polish (I own this one and wear it ALL THE TIME!!!)
2. Scalloped Purse (Seriously!!! How presh is this?)
3. Le Creuset French Oven (I NEED THIS IN MY LIFE ASAP)
4. Blue Pump
5. Indigo Washed Pillow
6. Blue Instax (Debating investing in one of these babies...I'd think I'd go for pink though...)

It's ALMOST the weekend! yaaahooo. James is currently on a 5 night tour with Towers & Trees...I'm missing him like craaay...and this is the short tour...I don't know what I'm going to do when he's gone for THREE weeks!!! But I have great friends keeping me company..Thea & Nadia came over tonight and we had a great catch up and reminisced about our early 20s...oh the adventures we had.

Stay gold,

s.s.♥︎.

ON DEALING WITH THE NEGATIVE VOICES IN YOUR LIFE (AKA THE HATERS)

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image via

I'm a naturally positive person. Positivity is my second highest strength on my strengths finder. When I come across negativity, I can actually feel my insides turning. I hate it. I usually run in the opposite direction. I like people to be happy. I'm naturally a people pleaser. So when people say hurtful things about me, I get real upset. BUT I've come to terms with the fact that not everyone is going to like me. Everybody has issues and sadly, people like to take those issues out on other people. Sometimes people say really hurtful things to your face or behind your back. 

Funny story...I once received a very in depth email (it was a general info email address that I would read and respond to) ABOUT ME. Yes, the email was complaining about me. LOLs At first I was shocked and sad but then I just had to laugh it off because it was kinda ridiculous that I just so happened to be the person receiving the mean email...

But sometimes I don't laugh. Sometimes I hear certain things and I get very upset. And I know some of you out there may be in this boat. Well, today I have some advice from you that could help you out when you have to deal with the haters....

1. SHAKE IT OFF

Not everyone is going to be your biggest fan and you need to be ok with that. I had this issue last year where I found out that people were not saying the kindest things about me. At first I was furious but when I got home and had a chance to clear my head, I turned on some music and literally danced it off. The great philosopher of our day, T Swift wrote a killer song about this..."And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate. Baby I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake...shake it off, shake it off." 

When I dance it out, I literally see the negativity and hate fall off my shoulders. You do not need to let those negative voices define you! And take note- when you dance, you gotta go all out and have fun while you're doing it. Seriously, this is very important!!! Soon enough you'll start smiling and know that the haters can keep on hatin and that's ok because you are going to keep on shining. #cantstopwontstop
P.S. I highly recommend these songs- "Shake it Off", "Uptown Funk", "Two of Hearts", "Don't Stop till You Get Enough"

2. TURN YOUR CRITICS INTO COACHES

I went to this conference a number of years ago where Mark Driscoll shared in one of the sessions. I can't really remember what he was speaking on but I kinda remember it being on idols...anyways he said this statement that totally stood out to me "Turn your critics into coaches."

Now I'm not saying, analyze and give that person a voice in your life but examine what they said. Maybe there is some truth in it? You don't owe the haters but we're all works in progress and maybe there are some things you can improve on.

Allow their words to bring out the best in you, not the worst in you.

3. HAVE THICK SKIN & A SOFT HEART

When I'm dealing with haters, I'm naturally inclined to get my stuff together, work my butt off and prove to them that I'm fully capable. I develop a thick skin and an even thicker heart, and that is NO GOOD. 

You have to remember that people are people. No one is perfect. Everyone is dealing with their own stuff and hurt people hurt people. Sometimes people say mean things out of an insecurity, past hurt, etc....Lord knows, I've done that before.

When I was at Hillsong London's night leadership classes all those years ago, I learned that I needed to have thick skin and a soft heart.
Thick skin to not let issues, people, etc get me down but to also have a soft heart, that genuinely cares for people.

Jesus says it best in Matthew 5:44- “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves."

Now this is a hard one for me. I'm Italian and I'm reeeeeaaal good at holding grudges BUT God's been working on my heart, softening it. 

I'm not saying, continue to give someone authority in your life to speak negative things over you. I'm saying, pray for them. Bless them. Who knows what God could do with the situation....

But keep on shining like a diamond girl...don't let anyone dull that sparkle!

xo,

s.s.♥︎.