Unpopular Birthday Post

In recognition of my birthday, here are exactly 26 unpopular/controversial/random/goofy opinions or preferences I have and stand by. You're allowed to laugh, and you're allowed to disagree. The blog description says sass for a reason. ;) Enjoy. <3

26. Meat is better fully cooked, and it's not "cool" to prefer it rare.

25. Leggings aren't pants. Not saying you can't wear them...but they're not pants.

24. Anxiety is a feeling and we don't need to be prescribed and excused for it, we need mental discipline. (Scriptural, fyi.)

23. Femininity is still classy.

22. Women - at our core - actually do prefer men to be manly, as much as the culture insists we don't.

21. Lake over ocean. I love them both, but prefer the lake.

20. Church is essential.

19. Live streams are not church.

18. Pro-choice only advocates abortion, no "choice" about it.

17. Pride & Prejudice (2005)

16. You are not enough. Stop hiding behind validation. God is more than enough. Stop replacing/downplaying Him.

15. With that theme, "self love" is a garbage mindset.

14. You can pour from an "empty bucket" and love others before loving yourself.

13. Homeschooling was cool before 2020.

12. College is optional. Nothing wrong with it...nothing wrong without it.

11. I love my parents and value their input and wisdom.

10. Electing leaders must be done by considering policies rather than (assumed) character; true character will be revealed in advocated policies, and the effects of policies will outlast personality.

9. You're allowed to love pumpkin spice. Pumpkins were a thing before "basic" was.

8. In spite of what the modern "church" tells you, "love and peace" is not tolerance and blind gullibility.

7. The time to stand up for truth is always now.

6. The time to be honest is always up front.

5. New York is overrated. "Getting" to go there would not thrill me. At all.

4. Kids shouldn't have phones. They should have childhoods. Before being inevitably exposed to rampant immorality, predators, and social pressure.

3. You are allowed (and would be better off) to not believe everything the media tells you to believe, and think for yourself.

2. There is no such thing as "your truth" or "my truth." Truth is set, and God set it.

1. Christian, the best way for you to lead is to follow Jesus well. (He's done/does all for us, the least we can do is live for Him.)

Try New Things

"Do not wait for inspiration, it comes while working."

-Henri Matisse

*quotes artist like I know what I'm doing*

Narrator: she had no idea what she was doing.

Meet & Greet

As there's quite a few of you newer than not to the Element, here's a little Monday meet and greet!

My name is Caity- surprise- although it was just as nearly Natalie until a nurse finally told my parents they had to just choose one and my dad wrote this one down. (I'm kinda glad. No offense, if your name is Natalie. ;))

I'm an introvert, which basically means (in my case) that I have a louder written presence than physical, and social interactions - while I do (usually) enjoy them - simply tire me out quickly.

I have strong opinions about pretty much everything but for the most part I'm a listener. Learning to speak up more when it matters.

Writing has truly helped shape and firm up who I am as an individual. There's a quote from/on the back cover of my book that says "A revolution not spoken is a revolution in theory only, and can be blown away by the simplest breath of comfort." This space is where my revolution gets spoken; and once you speak something- declaring that it means enough to you to be spoken- it becomes a personal, important piece of you that you have to take ownership of, and doing so has stretched and prodded me and my comfort zone, which I'm grateful for. I'm also grateful for each of you who take the time to read what I share!

Most importantly, my sins have been paid for by Jesus' shed blood and grace, and my true home is in Heaven.

Feel free to share something random about yourself in the comments!

Not a Giveaway, But I Love You

"[God] stilleth the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, and the tumult of the people."

-Psalm 65:7-

I'm not sure if it's a thing or not for bloggers to post on their own birthday...in our day and age, probably; and they probably give things away out of the sudden generosity of their heart. ^_^ (Juuust giving y'all a hard time.)

I'm not here to give anything away but I am here to share a little something nautical since ships are basically my favourite thing and because they remind me of the beauty, refuge, and power of my God! 

The beauty of His sea and the gentle rolling of a ship on its ebb and flow; the refuge He offers as our lighthouse and guide; and the power He holds over the wind and waves when we are overcome by storms.

The same God through whose hands the oceans cannot slip holds my heart and preserves my soul.

"The Way Of a Ship In the Midst Of the Sea"

-photo sent by a friend, while she was visiting London-

"To reach a port we must set sail –

Sail, not tie at anchor

Sail, not drift."

-crochet ship art, seen (and nearly bought) at a resale shop-

Bookish

I bought this book embosser years ago and I love the personal touch it adds to my collection.

It also helps when loaning books out, to have your seal of ownership in there. ;)

Do you have a favourite bookish item, tool, or decor piece?

And if you enjoy classic literature and a whimsy story, I recommend "The Enchanted April", by Arnim. A simple premise and flow, but an incredible depth of character development. Simultaneously fascinating and quaint.

Scribbler: An Aesthetic

 twine and books ❤ ships & bottles ❤ wooden chests

"A Few of My Favourite Things"

My INFJ aesthetic, featuring a few of my favourite things...

1. Books (including- of course- "Narnia" and "The Giver")
2. (Well placed) Sarcasm
3. Ships and uniqueness
4. Pasta
5. Coffee
6. Oversized sweaters

Real Time Aesthetic

Hello! Here's a throwback to when I still had long hair and still tried to take selfies in the wind. :P

Thought I would share just a few random things today! (As if it hasn't all been random.)

• I love old books. (And new books.)
• I love oversized sweaters and the smell of rain.
• I love the first blast of air conditioning in my car when it's hot outside. (But love driving with the windows down even more.)
• I love the real time aesthetic of simple luxury that sitting in Olive Garden with a Michael Buble song playing quietly above and around me and my pasta evokes.
• I enjoy best the things that carry meaning and sentiment. A material possession isn't worth possessing in this life if there is not some symbolism behind it that represents part of your story.

Crown of Beauty Magazine Interview!

 

I am beyond excited to share this fun interview with you, put together by the ladies over at Crown of Beauty Magazine! Click on the link or image to head over to their site and get to know more about "Gentle Revolution", its backstory, and the scribbler. ;)

(Also, loving this image they designed to go with it!)

Home Is Where You Set Your Anchor

Your space should be infused with who you are and the things that make up the story of your life.

If your home is filled with what looks good or is popular and trending vs the things that you love or hold meaning to you, it will be like living in someone else's story...

You'll feel uncomfortable and unsettled (as you should if trying to live as someone else...)

Those who enter your home will feel that you are insecure in it, at the same time that they get a skewed view of who you are.

Your home should be an authentic reflection of those living in it.

And - just like you - your house will never be perfect; don't wait to fill your house with the elements that make it home right now.

Stay Creative

I got inspired by a block of excess wood from my moms new garden structure and painted some mountains {one of my favourite things} on a whim one day during quarantine!

On beautiful days- when the sun is shining and there's a breeze- this is when I feel the need to get creative and try new things! Otherwise...I generally prefer observing other people's creative results. ^_^

What is your creative outlet, or something creative you've tried on a whim in 2020?

Challenge Accepted

One of the positives I can take away from this season (referring to the COVID phase) is that I was able to reach my 2020 Goodreads challenge this early! Woohoo! It's always both fun and interesting to look back over the titles that were read in any given year and consider how each one left an impact or made an impression due to the season it was read it, and to remember favourite takeaways, scenes, quotes, and authors.

And just for fun! below are my challenges from back and back and back! (That's a reference from The Giver. FYI. ^_^)

You can see, as the years go so does the time on hand for reading; but it's important, so it's worth finding or making!

Paradox

I've read that the INFJ is a paradox and it's so true, especially as far as the frequent assumptions go...

People always assume that the INFJ are the quiet yet blunt type (which we are), but they are also the deeply sentimental, and when we're quiet it's sometimes because we feel fake in surface trivialities...get your INFJ friend talking about whimsical, somewhat deep, sentimental things, and you'll wish they were quiet. ;)

Confident Dwelling

"Feeling confident in your own style and with your decor choices might take time. It helps to start with the courage to experiment and the inspiration to spark your ideas...what really matters in our home is how it feels to be there. A home is a place to dwell. It's a sanctuary that can invite us to be ourselves." 

-Melissa Michaels, Blogger and Author at The Inspired Room

Interior design/decorating is one of my low-key passions.

I enjoy combining it with my love for personalities and figuring people out; having a conversation with someone, asking them questions about them, and then creating vision boards on Pinterest for their home based off what they said- down to paint colours and wood tones, quirky flairs and subtle nods to their favourite book- and then watching their eyes light up when they open that board and feel an immediate connection.

Oh yeah.

People Are Oceans

Another great tool for connecting with people today is in the study of personality...with all the tests and quizzes and assessments we now have to take deeper looks at how we and our fellow comrades operate, we have the opportunity to know each other better and better serve each other with our words, actions, and understanding.

My personal favourite is Myers Briggs.

I hope that you feel welcome here to share yours or your favourite quotes, quirks, or "problems" about your type.

Community is created through stories and our willingness to hear those of others...

I'm an INFJ.

And every bit of it. ;)

 

Emma - A Character Study

I've found -as an introvert and reader- that one of the easiest ways for me to connect with and get to know other people is to discuss our favourite fictional characters. 

"I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like." 

-"Emma", Jane Austen-

We all have characters from stories (be it book or movie) who we connect with and relate to for any number of reasons...

Sometimes it's completely- everything about them- sometimes it's in little ways that they act or even think, or even what we take away from between the lines and apply to our own lives.

Emma Woodhouse is one of those characters who I have always been drawn to, in her contradictory- and not all flattering- ways; she enjoys company and is generally good with people, but doesn't always have patience for them...she wants adventure, but loves her home/hometown...can talk to anyone, but is occasionally too blunt...she is mostly independent, but values relationships and is loyal to (and sometimes possessive of) her close friends...she is quick to deny needing anyone (particularly romantically) but wants to feel loved and needed.

Emma is such a reassuring heroine for me, because you can really start out not liking her much, but her character develops and grows so much over the course of the novel that by the end you feel proud of her and glad that she ended up with THE best hero in classic literature. 

"She was one of those, who, having once begun, would be always in love." 

(Also, the 2009 BBC mini series is the only worthy adaptation, in my opinion. ;))

Feel free to comment with some of your own fictional friends/mentors, or quotes about them...